Rail link to be axed in months

The Walsall to Wolverhampton rail link will be axed at the end of the year, transport chiefs confirmed today, after last ditch talks to save it collapsed.

Two Walsall MPs held an eleventh hour meeting with new national transport boss Lord Adonis, but were told the Government would not foot the bill for a continued service.

The delegation, including Walsall MPs David Winnick and Bruce George and former mayor Richard Worrall, had hoped to thrash out an interim arrangement that would keep the service going beyond December. But Mr Worrall today said Lord Adonis had told them that Walsall and Wolverhampton councils along with travel giants Centro and the West Midlands Passenger Transport Association (WMPTA) would still be expected to pay for the two trains needed for the route, which was the stumbling block to the scheme.

Walsall Councillor Gary Clarke, WMPTA Chairman, said he felt the Government had let the people of Wolverhampton and Walsall down.

"It does now look like the service will stop at the beginning of next year," he said. "The Government are clearly expecting the two local authorities along with Centro to pay for this, but we have always said that it is up to the Government to fund rolling stock."

But Councillor Clarke added that he had not given up on saving the service in the long term.

He said Wolverhampton Council had signalled it was prepared to contribute cash to the service, but that Walsall Council and Centro had so far refused.