“I nudged the rail minister in Parliament today regarding the bid to establish a regular passenger rail service between Lichfield, Alrewas, and Burton to relieve congestion on the A38 Trunk Road. I thought it important to invite him up to Lichfield to see for himself the advantages such a service would bring” says Michael Fabricant.

This is the exchange in the House of Commons earlier today:

Michael Fabricant: “My Honourable Friend will know that there is a bid in at the moment for the shovel ready scheme to convert the freight-only railway line from Lichfield to Burton, into a regular passenger service. And it’s backed, in a personal capacity, by the Roads Minister, my Honourable Friend for Burton, and most importantly of all, the West Midlands Mayor, because of the connectivity. It’ll be driven by a hydrogen power locomotive, if it’s given the go-ahead.

Will my Honourable Friend come up to Lichfield to see for himself how vital this rail service will be?”

Minister of State for Transport Chris Heaton-Harris: “In his normal shy and retiring way, my Honourable Friend has given me an invitation that I simply cannot refuse!

“He knows that we have received the bid for the restoration of passenger services between Lichfield and other places in Round 3 of the Restoring Your Railways Fund, and I very much look forward to my forthcoming visit.”