Staffordshire’s transport chief has called on the Government to ensure promises made on the West Coast Main Line are honoured – despite the deal hitting the buffers.
The future of the franchise is in limbo after it was confirmed that the proposed handover to FirstGroup had been axed after concerns about the tender process following complaints from current operator Virgin Trains.
But despite the national row, Mike Maryon – Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport – warned the line was crucial to the region’s prosperity.
“We were promised more routes, more seats, more trains and cheaper fares and this must still be the priority for whoever wins the franchise to run the West Coast Main Line,” he said. “By the Transport Secretary’s own admission this has been something of a fiasco and what we need now is a swift resolution to this matter.
“The West Coast Main Line plays a key role in connecting Staffordshire with the rest of the UK and it is hugely important, to both residents and businesses, that we have a high quality service we can have confidence in.
“The priority for us is not who operates the route, but the quality of service provided to the residents of Staffordshire and the people visiting and investing in the county.”
