A CAMPAIGN calling for more trains between Lichfield and Birmingham has been backed by a local MP.
The Cross City Line currently has two West Midlands Railway trains per hour between Lichfield Trent Valley and Birmingham New Street.
The figure had previously been four before the pandemic, but that level of service to stations in Lichfield and Shenstone has yet to return.
Lichfield MP Dave Robertson has met with Paul Butters from Midlands Connect to discuss the need to grow public transport options for local residents as part of a wider effort to improve rail connectivity.
Mr Robertson said:
“I support the Midlands Rail Hub and will be working with Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, and West Midlands Trains to deliver more services between Lichfield and Birmingham.
“From speaking to constituents, I know that the Cross City Line is incredibly busy. This line had a four trains per hour service before the pandemic, but now there are just two per hour.
“This makes it more difficult for people in Lichfield, Burntwood and the villages to travel to Birmingham and means trains can be overcrowded and uncomfortable at peak times.
“In order to get more people on the network we need to provide a better service for them and that’s what I’m pushing for.”
Analysis from Midlands Connect shows that an upgraded Cross City Line could deliver an extra five million seats every year as well as giving a boost to the jobs market.
Mr Butters said:
“It was great to meet with Dave and speak to him about our work and our flagship project, the Midlands Rail Hub.
“We outlined how the scheme could benefit Lichfield and improve local services for residents and commuters.
“We are delighted that he is supporting the Midlands Rail Hub and hearing how five million extra seats on the Cross City Line could deliver better and more frequent services.”
The last train of the day from Birmingham isn’t late enough if you have been to a concert at Symphony Hall!
How about we take the Trains right through to Burton on Trent and Build a station at the National Arboretum. The line is already there.
Please may I ask which Hat is Mr Robertson wearing in this Photo. The Councillor or the MP
Confusion reigns or misguidance.
So important to get the balance right.
I am sure the Electorate would really like to know too
I also think there should be a later last train from Birmingham to Trent Valley as it’s a good walk from some of the newer Music venues & you have to leave before the end of some to guarantee getting the train. The trains should all run to Trent Valley now, as there’s lots of new housing at Streethay & the people do use the trains a lot.
Speeding up the service with fewer stops would be the best option if capacity allows.
Dave doesn’t have a clue. We need to STOP linking 4 trains an hour to Birmingham with these huge unrealistic projects such as the Midlands Connect / Rail Hub. 4 trains an hour to Lichfield could run tomorrow, no infrastructure upgrades required, if Starmer’s department for transport gave WMR some extra cash.
(I give labour a lot of flak on here, but it’s important to note that the conservatives also did nothing to restore our Birmingham service to 4 trains per hour).
Can our MP confirm what solid actions he will take to support this important point? Or is it all just hot air?
What about reopening the line up to see trains run to a new station at Alrewas for the national Arboretum and onto Burton, which could terminate in a bay that was previously at Burton prior to Dr Beechings report in the 60’s? I hear it’s still there under a concrete slab. The crosscountry train services from Nottingham to Cardiff could also come via Lichfield then 50% of time instead of via Tamworth giving Lichfield residents direct services to Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cheltenham and Cardiff plus others.
Getting them to reliably run the existing trains the full length of the lone would be good too. It’s too frequent that they get behind and cancel from Four Oaks (or similar) and leave Lichfield customers sitting on a dark platform with limited information and no facilities.
CrossCountry services usually call at Lichfield City when there is engineering works at Tamworth and a bus takes you to Tamworth from there. It would be brilliant if CrossCountry featured Lichfield City as a proper principal station in their network. That way, there would be more train services to Birmingham and direct train services towards places like Burton, Plymouth and Edinburgh without the mad change over at Tamworth
Nice one, Dave. Also turn HS2 into something useful by connecting Lichfield Trent Valley to Manchester (Handsacre Junction in Staffordshire, and High Legh in Cheshire) as previously proposed.