Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, is delighted that rail services in South Staffordshire will see significant improvements.
The government has recently announced that they have awarded the West Midlands Rail Franchise to West Midlands Trains Ltd (a joint venture between Abellio, East Japan Railway Company and Mitsui & Co Ltd), which will see just under £1bn of funding invested into rail services across the West Midlands.
Gavin has repeatedly pushed for improvements through his campaign to secure better rail services for South Staffordshire. He has met with transport providers, as well as the Department for Transport, to encourage them to consider South Staffordshire when making improvements.
The changes will see additional services to create a regular twice-hourly service between Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Monday to Saturday in addition to the current hourly service operated by Arriva Trains Wales, as well as a half-hourly service between Birmingham, Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley. More frequent Sunday services will also be introduced.
Commenting on the announcement, Gavin said: "I am incredibly pleased that the Department for Transport will be investing nearly £1bn into improving our rail services across the West Midlands. This is the highest investment in rail for over a century and will have an enormous impact.
South Staffordshire will see an improved and more regular service, as well as better quality seating and an increased number of carriages. I look forward to seeing these improvements implemented and I know that South Staffordshire residents will greatly benefit as a result".