Published: Thursday 22nd August 2019 | 4.52pm
Ongoing concerns about the reliability of rail services on the Chase Line from Rugeley Trent Valley to Birmingham New Street has prompted the Leader of Cannock Chase Council, Councillor George Adamson, to ask Council officers to call an urgent meeting of the Chase Line Stakeholders Group.
The group, chaired by Amanda Milling MP, comprises partners who have an interest in promoting and developing the Chase Line. It includes Cannock Chase councillors and officers, as well as representatives from Staffordshire County Council, Network Rail and service operator West Midlands Trains.
Councillor Adamson has written to Amanda Milling to convey his frustrations on behalf of residents, who have been complaining about trains terminating at Hednesford instead of completing their journey at Rugeley, repeated service delays; and recent cancellations due to hot weather, signalling problems at Birmingham New Street, along the line, and disruption to overhead power cables along the West Coast Main Line at Rugeley.
Pending the meeting of the Stakeholders Group the Council has as a matter of priority set aside three parking bays at its Anglesey Street Car Park near Hednesford railway station to allow for rail replacement minibuses to pick up and drop off passengers whose journeys are being cut short at Hednesford.
West Midlands Trains has publicly acknowledged that its May timetable has created problems for services running on the Chase Line and along the company’s other routes.
The Chase Line Stakeholders Group last met in June and will meet at the Civic Offices as soon as this can be arranged to discuss the recent problems.
Photograph:
Councillor George Adamson, Leader of Cannock Chase Council.