Derek Twigg MP, Minister at the Department of Transport, has now written
back to Michael Fabricant and confirmed that the number of high speed
direct Pendolino services between Lichfield Trent Valley and London
Euston will be reduced from December 2008. As confirmed by the
Minister’s earlier letter to Mr Fabricant, there will be similar service
reductions from all stations throughout the midlands except for
Birmingham.

In his letter, Derek Twigg says: "There are currently three direct
services between Lichfield Trent Valley station and London Euston per
weekday in each direction. I can confirm the following Virgin West Coast
services are proposed to call at Lichfield Trent Valley station with
effect from December 2008 –
2 morning trains to London Euston and 1 late evening train to London
Euston
3 evening peak trains and 2 late evening trains from London Euston back
to Lichfield".

Tony Collins, Chief Executive of Virgin Trains, has also just written to
Michael Fabricant to say: "I can confirm that the provisional timetable
for 2008 provides a Pendolino service at peak times between London
Euston and Lichfield which is at least as frequent as the current
timetable. Lichfield Trent Valley will also be served by the Desiro
train, which I now believe will be on an hourly basis, clearly, this
will be good news for rail passengers in Lichfield."

Michael Fabricant says: "Although this represents a reduction in
Pendolino services southwards to London, it may not be too serious. At
present there are two peak morning time services to London with an
off-peak service which arrives around midday. I shall be consulting
with the Lichfield Commuters’ Group and other rail users. But my
present view is that provided the two proposed Virgin morning trains
remain at peak commuting times, these changes should not create any
difficulty as the one off peak morning Virgin service will be replaced
by the hourly slower ‘Desiro’ train service. This will be at cheap rate
at off-peak times.

"It’s early days yet. I expect to have many more discussions with
ministers at the Department of Transport and with Virgin concerning the
frequency of these services over the next couple of years before the
Lichfield timetable is finalised."

See also the News Release of 7th August 2006.