Michael Fabricant addressed the Lichfield Rail Promotion Group regarding a number of developments and answered questions.

“It was a very constructive meeting chaired by Cllr Dr Richard Henshaw” says Michael.  We discussed three issues:  the use of the Lichfield to Burton line for passenger traffic; the planned improvement of Avanti rail services to and from Lichfield Trent Valley railway station; and the need to restore four services each hour to and from Lichfield Trent Valley and City stations on the Cross City Line via Birmingham.

“I explained that I had had a meeting to discuss the funding of the Lichfield to Burton Line with Cllr Alan White, the Leader of Staffordshire County Council, Patrick Flaherty, the County Chief Executive, and Philippa Rawlinson, Chief Executive of the National Memorial Arboretum following the statement by Mark Harper. The Transport Secretary told me in the House of Commons on the 21^st March that the County would be receiving around £260 million from the cancellation of HS2 Phase 2 which could be used for this service.”

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Michael reported that the County have agreed in principle to support this line with a stop at the Arboretum subject to further work.

“Richard Henshaw asked how the Rail Promotion Group might support the project and he has now written to the County Council” adds Michael.

Writing to the County, Richard Henshaw said:  “Michael Fabricant met us and told us that the Transport Minister had recently informed him that funds released by the cancellation of the  northern leg of HS2 would soon be available to the County Council for transport levelling-up projects. He also reported on his recent Teams meeting with you, and your desire to press ahead with the Lichfield to Burton passenger rail re-opening scheme.

“This is splendid news and we would encourage you to take up these funds and submit a formal application to the Department for Transport as soon as possible.

“Our case is powerful and would greatly benefit our residents. The railway line is already used for freight and diverted traffic and would take modest expenditure to upgrade to regular passenger trains. It runs alongside the busy and dangerous A38 with congestion made much worse by the folly that is HS2 around Lichfield.

“With a modest station at Alrewas passengers could get to the National Memorial Arboretum with ease, and the Arboretum CEO actively supports the scheme. It would make a significant contribution to net zero in Staffordshire, and improve rail connectivity in the county. We expect the population north of the city to increase with projected housing development.

“What’s not to like as people might say! We would urge you to act quickly, and it would be good to arrange a meeting with you all to co-ordinate our efforts.”

Michael Fabricant adds “I am very pleased to have the Group’s support on this exciting project.

“I then informed the Group about Avanti’s plans to introduce an hourly rail service from Lichfield to London and the North which would be in addition to the hourly London-NorthWestern service and this met with the approval of the Group”.

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“And finally I was asked about the West Midlands Trains service on the Cross City Line.  This used to run four times an hour, but was reduced to twice an hour during the Covid pandemic.  I have now written to West Midlands Trains asking when the four times an hour service will be restored.”