Explanation ordered on station closure

Network Rail has been called on to explain its handling of the temporary closure of a Black Country railway station.

Councillors on transport authority Centro say not enough notice was given of the eight-month closure of Tipton station.

The closure period started on September 14, for a £2.5million refurbishment. Network Rail said that it had posters up in the station for a month warning that it would be closed until May 2010 but Soho and Victoria councillor Roger Horton said he was very concerned at the matter.

He said there was a lack of information until the Express & Star reported the closure a week before the station was shut.

Councillor Horton has submitted a motion to demand that Network Rail appears at a Centro meeting to explain its actions.

His motion reads: "Centro deplores the closure of Tipton railway station in Sandwell with no consultation or prior notice whatsoever to customers or Centro.

"We call on Network Rail to attend the next meeting of the integrated transport authority to explain their actions and reasoning."

Network Rail spokesman Rachel Blackman said: "There were notices at the station before the closure. The work is essential because the life of these platforms had come to an end."

The closure has been causing more than transport problems for nearby residents. The public address system was still blaring out automated announcements warning people to stand be-hind the yellow lines on the platforms despite no trains stopping there until May.

Malcolm Jones, who lives in Stella Road, said residents were having to put up with announcements from 6.10am until 10.30pm.

Station owner London Midland said announcements about trains had now stopped but the system would still give audio messages about the closure.