Rail chiefs plan £1.6m revamp of stations

Commuters and day-trippers are set to benefit from a £1.6 million overhaul designed to bring better facilities and improved safety at six rail stations on the Chase Line.

Developments will see an overhaul at Rugeley Town, Hednesford, Cannock, Landywood, Bloxwich and Bloxwich North.

New waiting shelters, seating areas and CCTV will be installed at the stations, along with new help points, ticket machines, electronic information boards and improved lighting.

NVQ assessor Chris Stevenson, from the Birches Estate, Rugeley, learned to drive after growing frustrated with the Chase Line on his daily commute to Birmingham.

"The facilities were not really up to scratch along the Chase Line, and Rugeley in particular has become very shabby" he said.

"There was never any communication about time-table delays and we were sometimes left standing on the platform without any idea what was happening. If they're going to address that now it will be just what the doctor ordered."

The joint project by Centro, rail operator London Midland, Network Rail and Staffordshire County Council is due for completion by autumn and a timetable of work has been scheduled to minimise impact on regular passengers.