Campaigners have vowed to fight for the full reinstatement of a rail service which was axed by Government officials.
The Walsall to Wolverhampton line which carries an estimated 60,000 passengers a year will end next month after Rail Minister Tom Harris refused to subsidise it.
Protesters claim an end to the route will spell disaster for people in the Black Country, but they will continue to fight for its survival.
Railfuture campaigner Alan Bevan said: “This is clearly a service that is very important to people in Wolverhampton and Walsall.
“If they axe this service they will leave people in Wolverhampton feeling disenfranchised and the fact that there’s an alternative bus service does not really help.
“The Department for Transport are trying to hamper our efforts but we’re not ready to give up just yet.
“There is still more to be done and we’re hoping we will find a way forward.”
Passenger transport authority Centro has been desperately searching for ways to fund the service since the Department for Transport announced their decision.
The DfT will no longer subsidise the route run by London Midland and decided to axe the hourly service.
But Centro has outlined plans to push for its reinstatement in a recent report.
Rail and Rapid Transport director Nigel Pennington said: “Centro remains committed to providing a rail service on the Walsall to Wolverhampton corridor and is investigating options for reinstating and improving the service as soon as practicable and in the light of rolling stock becoming available from 2010 onwards.”
They will commission a study exploring timetabling, reinstating the service and placing a station at Willenhall.”
London Midland took over the service from Central Trains and Silver Link last year. But the Department for Transport franchise agreement did not include keeping the line open
