Passengers to get better service

West Midland rail passengers were today promised better services, new trains and revamped stations - along with a rise in some fares.

The Government announced that a new franchise would be run by London and Birmingham Railway from November 11 this year.

The franchise replaced the county services run by Silverlink and the major part of the current Central Trains franchise.

The Department for Transport said fares would continue to rise annually by one per cent above the inflation rate.

London and Birmingham Railway, a subsiduary of the Go-Ahead group, was expected to increase fares for journeys on the London to Northampton route by three per cent above inflation per year.

Passenger benefits from the new franchise, which will run until September 2015, include a new semi-fast service between London and Crewe and two trains an hour all day between Birmingham and Liverpool and Birmingham and Northampton from December 2008.

A fleet of 37 new electric trains by July 2009, a £11.5 million investment in stations, 1,033 more car parking spaces and a 90.7 per cent punctuality and reliability rate were pledged.