Wolverhampton - Walsall train service to be axed

3.35.59pm GMT Wed 2nd Mar 2005

The Strategic Rail Authority has, in its Route Utilisation Strategy, proposed the Wolverhampton to Walsall rail service be axed. This does not come as a surprise to me, as a regularly user of the 'service', which has been a rail replacement coach service since the New Year, I have felt the passengers were been softened up for this.

When I started using the service a year ago it was a well used service, now it has become a rail replacement coach there is often just a handful of passengers. Most passengers are now catching the bus or worse still driving, I suspect the incompetence and lack of information about the train/coach service has led people to switch to finding other ways to travel.

We should not be axing services but investing in public transport and especially the rail network. Axing services can only lead to more congestion and more pollution is this really what the Government and the Strategic Rail Authority really want?