News Release

24th August 2006

MINISTER CONFIRMS REDUCTION IN VIRGIN SERVICES FROM 2008

Derek Twigg MP, Minister at the Department of Transport, has now written back to Michael Fabricant and confirmed that the number of high speed direct Pendolino services between Lichfield Trent Valley and London Euston will be reduced from December 2008. As confirmed by the Minister's earlier letter to Mr Fabricant, there will be similar service reductions from all stations throughout the midlands except for Birmingham.

In his letter, Derek Twigg says: "There are currently three direct services between Lichfield Trent Valley station and London Euston per weekday in each direction. I can confirm the following Virgin West Coast services are proposed to call at Lichfield Trent Valley station with effect from December 2008 -
2 morning trains to London Euston and 1 late evening train to London Euston
3 evening peak trains and 2 late evening trains from London Euston back to Lichfield".

Tony Collins, Chief Executive of Virgin Trains, has also just written to Michael Fabricant to say: "I can confirm that the provisional timetable for 2008 provides a Pendolino service at peak times between London Euston and Lichfield which is at least as frequent as the current timetable. Lichfield Trent Valley will also be served by the Desiro train, which I now believe will be on an hourly basis, clearly, this will be good news for rail passengers in Lichfield."

Michael Fabricant says: "Although this represents a reduction in Pendolino services southwards to London, it may not be too serious. At present there are two peak morning time services to London with an off-peak service which arrives around midday. I shall be consulting with the Lichfield Commuters' Group and other rail users. But my present view is that provided the two proposed Virgin morning trains remain at peak commuting times, these changes should not create any difficulty as the one off peak morning Virgin service will be replaced by the hourly slower 'Desiro' train service. This will be at cheap rate at off-peak times.

"It's early days yet. I expect to have many more discussions with ministers at the Department of Transport and with Virgin concerning the frequency of these services over the next couple of years before the Lichfield timetable is finalised."