Staffordshire’s transport chief has said he is hopeful commuters will benefit from the decision to hand the West Coast Main Line franchise to a new operator.
The Government confirmed last week that FirstGroup would take over from Virgin Trains in December – a decision which will have implications for passengers using Lichfield Trent Valley station to travel to London or the North.
But County Councillor Mike Maryon has reassured residents he will be “watching closely” to see if the new operator can deliver on its promises for the line.
“If it does bring better routes and better fares than that would be great news,” he said. “I will certainly be watching closely to ensure they keep their promises and we get the best deal for commuters in Staffordshire.”
FirstGroup has said it would add around 12,000 seats, with 11 extra trains, and new services to stations including Blackpool, Shrewsbury and Bolton.
