Network Rail's (NR) strategic route 23 encompassed mainly the English rural railway lines of Lancashire and Cumbria. It excluded the part of the West Coast Main Line (WCML) that bisects the counties. It included the following lines: Some of these routes and/or services are designated as Community Rail Partnerships (CRP): * East Lancashire CRP (Preston to Colne service) * West of Lancashire CRP (Southport to Wigan, Ormskirk to Preston) * Lakes Line CRP (Oxenholme to Windermere) * Clitheroe Line CRP (Manchester to Clitheroe service).