Travellers on a Black Country rail route are being offered free tickets to the Walsall Illuminations.

The special offer has been set up by West Midlands public transport promoter Centro-PTA as part of a campaign to encourage more local people to use the threatened rail service.  Passengers can buy one ticket and get one free for admission to the annual family event at the Arboretum.

“In the past the Walsall to Wolverhampton route has been something of a Cinderella service that has been difficult to promote, now we want this to change,” comments Cllr Gary Clarke, chairman of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority.

Government proposals to axe the service have been fiercely resisted by Cllr Clarke and his colleagues at the PTA which sets policy for Centro.  They are opposed to plans to replace the poorly-used train service with a so-called express coach link between Walsall and Wolverhampton.

“Our view has been that it would not be an acceptable alternative and instead of looking for cuts, the Government should be investing in the rail network to make it more attractive.  The trains will keep running at least into next year.  If more people use the Walsall to Wolverhampton line in the meantime that will help make the case for keeping it open,” says Cllr Clarke.

He says if local people can show there is a demand for the service, he would like to see the frequency doubled to trains every half hour.

“Across the West Midlands, we want to be increasing local services,” he adds.

The promotional campaign will include special offers for passengers, advertising in local papers and leaflets delivered to 60,000 homes.