Train service will be axed

A train service through parts of Staffordshire is to be axed, sparking anger among commuters.

People living in Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley and Bloxwich say they feel rail chiefs are "running down" the services to their villages by ditching the 16.07 train from Birmingham New Street to Stafford. The London Midland service runs via Bloxwich and Landywood.

It will mean commuters will have to wait for half hour to catch the next train at 16.39.

A petition has been set up to try to save the service, while passengers are also campaigning for Landywood to be a stop on the new off-peak, half-hourly service being introduced on December 14 from Rugeley to Birmingham New Street.

Dawn Ford, of Great Wyrley, has written to the London Midland on behalf of the commuters.

She said: "This decision will cause great inconvenience and disruption, with child care arrangements being affected as well as commuters' other early evening commitments.

"We feel the service is generally being 'run down' in favour of extending the Birmingham New Street to Rugeley services.

"We do not understand the reasoning for this as commuters we know travelling from stations to benefit from the half-hourly service tell us the passenger numbers using the station are not significantly greater than at Landywood.

"We are aggrieved season ticket holders will be expected to pay the same fare as those travelling from Rugeley, Hednesford and Cannock and yet have far, far fewer trains."

Richard Lakin, a spokesman for London Midland, confirmed they had received the petition. But added the new timetable included an extra train stopping at the three stations during peak hours between 5pm and 7.30pm.

He said: "We have received the petition and it is something we will consider."