Lichfield’s MP says a change of train operator “will undoubtedly benefit” passengers.
London Midland will no longer deliver services to and from Lichfield Trent Valley and Lichfield City stations.
The new train operator will be West Midlands Trains Ltd which will be run locally by a consortium of 16 local councils and the Department for Transport.
Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant said a plan to improve services would be welcomed by local passengers.
“The new West Midlands Trains franchise which will replace London Midland will undoubtedly benefit commuters from Lichfield Trent Valley and Lichfield City stations with 100 new carriages on the cross city line and compensation if there are delays of over 15 minutes,” he said.
“There will also be technical innovations with the roll out of smart ticketing and live passenger information. The existing wifi services will be expanded further.”
Mr Fabricant said he hoped the new operator would also support further expansion of local rail links.
He said: “West Midlands Trains will conduct feasibility studies into the opening of new stations in the West Midlands and I will be pressing for the opening of the Line from Lichfield Trent Valley to Burton for passenger traffic and the construction of a station at Alrewas to serve the National Memorial Arboretum and village of Alrewas.
“Finally, I wish the senior management of London Midland well. Many of the early problems first encountered by London Midland were resolved in recent years, but the new franchise will offer substantial improvements to passengers in the region.”
The new operator will take on local routes from December 2017.
