Proposals to cut the London-bound services to stations like Sandwell and Dudley are under consultation.

Paul Moore, Sandwell Council’s regeneration boss, has demanded that London-bound services are kept running through Sandwell and Dudley station as plans are proposed to reduce trains under a new franchise. 

The Intercity West Coast line which runs through stations like Sandwell and Dudley is currently held by Virgin Trains and the control of the line is up for renewal in 2018. 

The Department for Transport has been holding consultations to decide which franchise will provide the service and how it will be run and this is set to end on Tuesday 2nd August. 

The consultations have been looking into how to make journey times faster and the option of reducing stops to the service is on the table. It could mean that the line which runs from Edinburgh/ Glasgow Central to London Euston no longer stops at Sandwell and Dudley Station.

Councillor Moore said, “I’m appalled at the prospect of a reduction to this service, it’s bad news for businesses and bad news for residents. 

He continued by saying that Sandwell and Dudley is “one of the most important stations in the Black Country and arguably the West Midlands, with more than 800,000 rail passengers using the station every year.”

Mr Moore the cabinet member tasked with regenerating parts of Sandwell, believes good rail links are key to economic regeneration not just across the country but also in his area. He is encouraging local residents and businesses to participate in the consultation’s questionnaire to maintain services arriving and departing in the Black Country. 

Responses to the questionnaire will determine what the government asks for in the tender and can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of-intercity-west-coast-rail-franchise