BROMSGROVE Rail User Group (BRUG) is is hoping residents will support an 11th hour call to get the Department for Transport (DfT) to re-introduce the Cross Country XC service with more trains.
And they are callng on all local residents to have their say in the ‘Cross Country Rail Franchise Consultation’ which closes on August 30.
“Currently, some 605 bi-directional weekly Cross Country franchise trains pass through Bromsgrove,” said Tony Woodward, vice chair of BRUG.
“However since the additional northbound three trains per hour Cross City service was introduced four weeks ago, the basic Bromsgrove Cross Country service has been withdrawn from the timetable.
“This leaves just the hourly west bound West Midlands Railway service, via the Droitwich branch line to Worcester, Malvern and Hereford.
“The current southbound mainline service offering at Bromsgrove is non-existent, with no opportunity for direct mainline travel to South West and South Wales destinations.”
Until recently, Bromsgrove passengers were able to directly reach Cheltenham, Gloucester, Newport and Cardiff and could also access main destinations such as Bristol, Taunton, Exeter, Torbay and Plymouth, via a change at Cheltenham.
The group believes that a Cross Country re-instatement would also give Bromsgrove direct rail access to many other currently inaccessible areas.
Mr Woodward added: “Early morning timings on the GRW London Paddington route from Worcester and correspondingly offering appropriate arrival times at inter-route destinations such as Oxford, Reading and Heaththrow Airport.
“This could be achieved by way of just a six minute mainline journey from Bromsgrove to make the necessary change at Worcestershire Parkway when it opens.”
Residents are being urged to make sure Bromsgrove’s £27million station investment achieves its full public value potential by contacting the DfT.
Contact [email protected] to show your support.
