Centro, the West Midland’s passenger transport executive, has called for electrification of the region’s Chase line, which connects Birmingham with Walsall and Rugeley, following a rolling stock reshuffle that will see services reduced.
Train operator London Midland plans to reduce the number of trains along the line in order to release five diesel vehicles for use on other routes.
The move will see morning peak services reduced from three to two, with the trains currently used for this being redeployed on the Snow Hill, Shrewsbury, Walsall and Hereford routes.
Centro argues that electrification of the Chase line, and removal of the current mix of electric and diesel trains on the route, would mean that there would be no need to reduce service levels on one of the fastest growing rail routes in the Midlands.
