18.08.16
TfWM formally opposes ‘wholly unacceptable’ plans to cut inter-city WCML services
Potential plans to reduce inter-city trains on the next franchise for the West Coast Main Line have been branded “wholly unacceptable” as transport chiefs in the West Midlands sent in their formal response to the government.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), sent a formal response to the DfT’s Inter City West Coast (ICWC) franchise consultation opposing plans to reduce services at stations like Wolverhampton, Coventry, Birmingham International and Sandwell and Dudley.
The DfT had said the proposals in its consultation document would increase capacity on the line, speeding up journey times for long-distance passengers and improving the region’s services to London and Scotland after the existing franchise, which is held by Virgin Trains, expires in 2018.
But TfWM said reducing the services would damage the economy. Instead, it has put forward proposals to introduce longer 10, 11 or even 12-car trains to replace or extend the existing five and nine car services.
Cllr Roger Lawrence, transport lead on the WMCA, added that other proposals include better management of on-train capacity to avoid passengers standing in the middle of the train when there are seats available nearer the front or back.
The transport chiefs have also called for changes to the fare structure to address the significant difference between peak and off-peak fares and for more effective use of available train capacity.
The response also calls for the existing three trains per hour service between the West Midlands and London Euston to be retained with no restrictions to existing calling patterns.
Cllr Lawrence added: “Thousands of people in the West Midlands rely on the inter-city services currently provided by Virgin Trains for their daily commute.
“While we recognise the pressing need to squeeze more capacity out of the existing line it should not come at the expense of fewer inter-city services at key West Midlands stations. That would be wholly unacceptable.
“Nevertheless, we need to meet rising passenger numbers and support economic growth until the arrival of HS2 can relieve the pressure and that’s why we have suggested a number of alternative options.”