Replacement buses roll out as Chase Line shuts
Rail replacement buses ferried hundreds of people to work, as the two-week closure of a busy train line got under way.
The Chase Line, which runs between Walsall and Rugeley, will be closed until August 28 for a £100 million upgrade.
Rail operator London Midland has put on a fleet of buses to replace the trains, with the first commuters using them yesterday.
The busiest period for the buses was at around 8am as people made their way to work.
Walsall Council’s Conservative group leader Mike Bird said he hoped disruption would be kept to a minimum, but he added that the work is ‘essential’.
Councillor Bird said: “The Chase Line has required upgrading for many years so it needs to be done. It’s like anything though – there’s no gain without pain.
“There might be some disruption, but that will only be there for a short time.
“The improvements will be there for the long term and well into the future. I much hope it doesn’t have any impact on people and everyone finds ways to get to work.”
Transport bosses said the upgrade will include track improvements, platform work at Cannock, Landywood and Bloxwich stations, and the installation of stanchions and gantries ahead of overhead lines being installed next year.
Martin Tiller, Network Rail’s project sponsor, said: “This work, part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, will mean passengers travelling between Rugeley and Birmingham via Walsall will have a better, more reliable railway.
“Unfortunately these upgrades cannot be done while trains are running so we have to close the line between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley for 16 days.”
A London Midland statement said: “We are electrifying the line to deal with the growth of the number of passengers using the line. Once the work is done people will benefit from a cleaner, greener, quieter and more reliable railway between Birmingham and Rugeley with more frequent services.”
Until Monday buses will replace trains between Tame Bridge Parkway, Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley to an amended timetable. From Tuesday August 22 until Monday 28 buses will replace trains between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley to an amended timetable.
