News Release

22nd January 2003

LICHFIELD COMMUTERS' CLUB

Regular commuters from the Lichfield area who travel down to London met Michael Fabricant who hosted a meeting last night (Wednesday 21st January) in the House of Commons.

Michael says: "We decided that there should be regular dinners at the House of Commons to which we would invite guest speakers. We plan to invite Chris Green, the Chief Executive of Virgin Trains for our first dinner and then representatives from the Strategic Rail Authority, the Rail Users' Council, and the Transport Minister and the Shadow Transport Minister. This will not only provides a social forum for 'refugees from Lichfield' to meet in London, but also to question key people on the future of our rail links. The commuters from Lichfield include 5 who work for different departments within the BBC, several bankers, a journalist, and a senior executive of a rail operating company - not Virgin Trains. All enjoy and prefer the quality of life in Lichfield, but work in central London."

Anyone interested in joining the Lichfield Commuters' Club should email Ms Dorcas Batstone (a commuter who has volunteered to coordinate the dinners) at dorcas.batstone@elexon.co.uk.

Photograph shows some members of the Lichfield Commuters' Club with Michael Fabricant in the House of Commons.