Post by Madhatter on Sept 16, 2006 11:28:06 GMT
NICKI ROBINSON
10:30 - 14 September 2006
A Blanket of uncertainty has been thrown over the future of rail services in Atherstone after it was revealed that improvements to the West Coast Mainline could see stops at smaller stations cut.
A report to the North Warwickshire area committee says once the WCML modernisation work is complete, the hourly service between Crewe and London will call at either Atherstone station or Polesworth - but not both.
The Department of Transport claims the cuts are due to the need for the trains operating the service to arrive at set times at two key junctions, adding that it is not possible for individual trains to call at both stations on the same journey.
But there is some hope.
The report outlines major improvements to services to Atherstone if stops at Polesworth were cut.
It says a regular hourly service would be possible, which would significantly aid the development of the town 'increasing its attractiveness to business' and boosting the local economy.
It would mean, however, that Polesworth commuters would have to rely on a bus link to Atherstone or Tamworth.
Currently Polesworth station only has one of its platforms in use - making the station fully operational would cost somewhere between £400,000 and £1.5 million, with funding to come from the rail industry.
Councillor Richard Freer welcomed the increase in services to Atherstone but said: "I would be the last person to attempt to deprive Polesworth of a fully functioning station but it seems such good sense and a considerable saving in money if the link to Atherstone was strengthened.
"Atherstone would seem to be the obvious choice for the main station with shuttle services from Polesworth as a compass point radius of five miles from the centre of Atherstone brings in parishes containing 30,000 people - dilution of the service would benefit no-one.
"Further more the parking possibilities in Atherstone for passengers far exceeds the scope of Polesworth let alone the convenience of the position of the station," he added.
"It is very exiting to think this could be a possibility and something that Atherstone should have had long ago."
Members of the NW area committee, which includes representatives from the borough and the county, were due to discuss the options a at meeting in Atherstone last night (Wednesday).
Tamworth Herald
Tamworth
10:30 - 14 September 2006
A Blanket of uncertainty has been thrown over the future of rail services in Atherstone after it was revealed that improvements to the West Coast Mainline could see stops at smaller stations cut.
A report to the North Warwickshire area committee says once the WCML modernisation work is complete, the hourly service between Crewe and London will call at either Atherstone station or Polesworth - but not both.
The Department of Transport claims the cuts are due to the need for the trains operating the service to arrive at set times at two key junctions, adding that it is not possible for individual trains to call at both stations on the same journey.
But there is some hope.
The report outlines major improvements to services to Atherstone if stops at Polesworth were cut.
It says a regular hourly service would be possible, which would significantly aid the development of the town 'increasing its attractiveness to business' and boosting the local economy.
It would mean, however, that Polesworth commuters would have to rely on a bus link to Atherstone or Tamworth.
Currently Polesworth station only has one of its platforms in use - making the station fully operational would cost somewhere between £400,000 and £1.5 million, with funding to come from the rail industry.
Councillor Richard Freer welcomed the increase in services to Atherstone but said: "I would be the last person to attempt to deprive Polesworth of a fully functioning station but it seems such good sense and a considerable saving in money if the link to Atherstone was strengthened.
"Atherstone would seem to be the obvious choice for the main station with shuttle services from Polesworth as a compass point radius of five miles from the centre of Atherstone brings in parishes containing 30,000 people - dilution of the service would benefit no-one.
"Further more the parking possibilities in Atherstone for passengers far exceeds the scope of Polesworth let alone the convenience of the position of the station," he added.
"It is very exiting to think this could be a possibility and something that Atherstone should have had long ago."
Members of the NW area committee, which includes representatives from the borough and the county, were due to discuss the options a at meeting in Atherstone last night (Wednesday).
Tamworth Herald
Tamworth
