More than £9.5m is being invested to extend platforms at five railway stations in Cumbria to make way for longer trains.

Network Rail has already started work at Oxenholme, with Staveley, Kents Bank, Dalton and Ulverston stations to follow over the next three months.

Once complete, the scenic route between Manchester and Cumbria will be ready for longer trains - providing more seats for passengers visiting the iconic Lake District and South Cumbria.

Simon Daly, sponsor at Network Rail, said: “This work, and Northern’s planned roll out of longer trains, is crucial to increasing capacity on rail services between Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

“Rail travel is one of the greenest forms of transport in the UK. We want to encourage people to travel by rail – whether they’re going to work, visiting friends, or going on holiday to these fantastic destinations.”

Chris Jackson, regional director for Northern, added: “We welcome the commencement of these works and the improvement to the customer experience they will bring for passengers using our services to explore the Lake District. 

“It is always important to invest in rail infrastructure to ensure we can keep the region moving, getting people from where they are to where they want to be.”

Though most of the work will not be disruptive to passengers, some railway closures will be needed for the platform extensions to take place.

The line between Ulverston and Barrow in Furness will shut from October 8-16.

Kents Bank station will be closed for one weekend on September 17-18, while no trains will serve Staveley station on Sunday 2 or Sunday 23 October.

During the railway closures passengers will be kept on the move by rail replacement bus services.

The work will be carried out over the autumn, with all platforms being completed in December.