Train services axed after funding withdrawn
HALF-HOURLY off-peak train services between Walsall and stations in Staffordshire are to be axed from December.
The decision has been taken after the Department for Transport announced it was withdrawing funding for the services on the Chase Line between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley.
It provides two trains an hour from Walsall to Cannock, Hednesford, Rugeley Town and Rugeley Trent Valley stations rather than just an hourly service.
London Midland, the train company that holds the franchise to operate the route, has a responsibility to provide a minimum level of services as per its contract with the DfT.
The funding for these additional journeys is provided by London Midland, West Midlands transport authority Centro and the DfT.
Centro, which receives most of its funding from council tax payments in the seven boroughs of the West Midlands, undertook a cost benefit analysis with London Midland.
It said that the bill for providing these additional services in 2011 would be almost £290,000, or a subsidy of £7.18 per passenger.
Following the withdrawal of the DfT cash, funding to continue this extra service would have to be found locally.
Centro said that Cannock Chase District Council and Staffordshire County Council had only offered to provide up to a maximum of £50,000 between them towards the cost of providing both this and an additional evening service on the Chase line.
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Centro said: “Given the current economic climate, Centro feels that 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 to fund the extra evening services that operate between Birmingham, Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley, although we remain in talks with Staffordshire County Council and Cannock Chase District Council regarding the level of their contribution.”
Centro added that it would continue to work with London Midland to see if a half-hourly service on the Chase Line between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley could be retained on Saturdays when most people use the extra services.
There will still continue to be an hourly day time off peak service Monday to Friday.
