The price of Chas(e)ing more trains

On September the 6th I blogged on the changes by London Midland to the Chase Line serving Cannock and Rugeley; Chas(e) ing more trains. London Midland will be changing it's service from mid December with late night trains to Rugeley from Birmingham New Street and two services per hour during the day.

The most significant change is a boost in late-night trains from Birmingham New Street which for the first time will go right through to Rugeley. In the past the last train to Rugeley was at 6.12pm but now the final service to Rugeley will leave Birmingham at 10.17pm and arrive at 11.15pm.
http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/09/02/rail-boost-is-just-the-ticket/

The extension of these services comes at a price it would seem as the Express and Star reports; Train service will be axed.

The Express and Star reports that people living in Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley and Bloxwich have expressed their dismay at the 'running down' of services to their villages by ditching the 16.07 train from Birmingham to Stafford. The removal of the 16.07 service frees up the route for the new off peak half hourly service between Rugeley and Birmingham which launches on the 14th December.

Richard Lakin, a spokesman for London Midland, confirmed they had received the petition. But added the new timetable included an extra train stopping at the three stations during peak hours between 5pm and 7.30pm.
http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/11/26/train-service-will-be-axed/

Comments

Anonymous said…
The E&S story is slightly misleading. To be pedantic, the regular hourly service is being retimed from xx12 departures from Bham to xx39 - that would have happened regardless of the frequency increase. The xx07 is the additional service each hour (only calling at Cannock, Hednesford at Rugeley). So while Landywood is losing a departure at around ten past four, it's not because a service is being axed, it's been moved to twenty to five. Departures are effectively going half an hour back.

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