Lobby call over rail service cuts

Passengers would miss out on cheaper fares, a rail user group says

An alliance of councillors and business leaders should fight plans to cut off-peak services from Nuneaton into London, a council says.

Virgin Trains wants to stop all fast trains from the Warwickshire town to London after 0900 from December.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said the alliance would lobby the government for more train services.

Virgin said the move would help speed up and increase the frequency of its trains to major cities in the network.

A Virgin Trains spokesman added the firm had been asked by the government to provide a faster service to London on its West Coast Mainline which it was doing.

Nuneaton currently has at least one fast train per hour to London during the day. The move means passengers needing to reach the city will have to go via Northampton.

The borough council considered taking the decision to cut services to a judicial review.

Barrister's advice

However, council leader Marcus Jones said a barrister advised the council it would not win the case and taking it further could cost about £50,000.

"And we have to look at the council purse and council taxpayers funds," he said.

Mr Jones said it now wants to form an alliance to get the new West Coast Main Line timetable changed before it starts in December.

The council has contacted Warwickshire County Council who it wants to join them in lobbying the Department for Transport.

Keith Kondakor, of the Nuneaton and Bedworth Rail Users Group, said the changes meant a slower journey to London via Northampton at off-peak times.

"It's a disaster for people who want to take advantage of cheaper fares," he added.