Urgent talks held to save Staffordshire train service from axe
Jul 22 2010 by Justine Halifax, Birmingham Post
Urgent talks are being held in a desperate bid to save a “vital” train service in Staffordshire from being axed.
Transport authority Centro, which has funded a number of improvements to train services on the Chase Line, is calling on two local authorities to increase the amount they fund services on line from the current £53,000 payout to £290,000 a year.
Department of Transport funding cuts has forced the transport body to appeal to Cannock Chase Council and Staffordshire County Council to increase their funding.
The rise would cover the a subsidy of £7.18 per passenger to run the half-hour off-peak Monday to Friday service from Walsall to Cannock, Hednesford, Rugeley Town and Rugeley Trent Valley.
But the councils say they can only afford a joint £50,000 contribution.
Coun Tony Williams, environment leader at Cannock Chase Council, said: “The requested increase in funding is clearly unaffordable in the present economic climate. Cuts in accessibility between the district and the West Midlands conurbation will damage people’s employment and leisure opportunities and, as a result, the economy of the sub-region. Full rail service connections are vital.”
A Centro spokesman said: “All the stations served by this extra off peak weekday train per hour except Walsall are in Staffordshire. Cannock Chase District Council and Staffordshire County Council have only offered to provide up to a maximum of £50k between them towards the cost of providing both this and an additional evening service on the Chase line.
“Given the current economic climate, Centro feels it is not appropriate for West Midland’s taxpayers to pick up the bill to subsidise services for Staffordshire residents especially when the service offers such poor value for money.”
Centro has agreed to continue funding the hourly evening service between Birmingham, Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley, at a cost of £164,000 a year - £2.73 a passenger. It is also in talks with train operator London Midland to try and save the half hourly Saturday service between Walsall and Rugeley.
