Proposals to cut the number of inter-city trains at stations such as Coventry, Wolverhampton and Birmingham International are “wholly unacceptable”, West Midlands transport chiefs have told the Government.
They have written to condemn proposals to reduce services at the two stations, as well as at Sandwell and Dudley station in the Black Country, after they were put forward by the Department for Transport (DfT).
It follows news that some regulated rail fares are set to rise by 1.9 per cent.
The cuts are designed to reduce overcrowding on trains and were suggested in a consultation document about inter-city services on the West Coast Main Line, which are currently run by Virgin Trains.
Trains would still run between London, Birmingham New Street station and Manchester - but more services would miss out “intermediate” stations, according to the DfT document.
Although central Birmingham would get as many trains as before, there would be fewer services for passengers hoping to travel from Birmingham to other parts of the West Midlands.
Transport Ministers have insisted that they will listen to feedback from passengers and no final decision has been taken.
But Transport for the West Midlands, the region’s official transport body overseen by council leaders from across the region, has written to the DfT to warn the plan would damage the West Midlands economy and make it almost impossible to commute between some of the region’s key cities.
Instead, they are suggesting making trains longer so that they can carry more passengers, by adding more carriages. Services which currently have up to nine carriages could have up to 12.
They also suggest cutting the number of first class carriages, and simply doing more to help passengers find carriages with seats, which tend to be at the front or back of the train, rather than sticking to the middle.
Coun Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton City Council and the politician responsible for transport issues on the West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “While we recognise the pressing need to squeeze more capacity out of the existing line it should not come at the expense of fewer inter-city services at key West Midlands stations. That would be wholly unacceptable.
“Nevertheless, we need to meet rising passenger numbers and support economic growth until the arrival of HS2 can relieve the pressure and that’s why we have suggested a number of alternative options.”
The response from West Midlands leaders also calls for the existing three trains per hour service between the West Midlands and London Euston to be retained with no restrictions to existing calling patterns.
And it points out that Walsall, which has a population greater than Plymouth, is one of the largest towns in the UK without a direct service to London - and this should change.
Coun Lawrence added: “Thousands of people in the West Midlands rely on the inter-city services currently provided by Virgin Trains for their daily commute.”
The Government is looking at how intercity rail services on the West Coast Main Line could change because the existing franchise to run services, held by Virgin Trains, comes to an end on April 2018.
Whatever changes are agreed will come into effect when the new franchise begins.
The full consultation document, and details of how to respond, is online at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of-intercity-west-coast-rail-franchise .
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