Public transport bosses have raised hopes that train services between Walsall and Wolverhampton could continue – despite being ‘axed’ in a Government rail strategy for the West Midlands.

Cllr Gary Clarke, chairman of the watchdog Passenger Transport Authority, today said all was not lost, following a meeting with the PTA’s executive arm Centro to discuss the next stage in the campaign to save the line.

“Our officers in Centro have already had a meeting with the Department for Transport to hammer out the details of funding and there are good signs that we can find a solution to maintain a passenger service,” he said.

“We stood up for passengers and local interests throughout the consultation on this plan and we have made some headway.  But our opposition to cutting passenger services was made quite clear – and that opposition will continue even though the Government was now approved the plan,” Cllr Clarke added.

Centro-PTA had argued that more effort needed to be invested to make the poorly-used Wolverhampton to Walsall service more reliable before the true level of passenger demand could be measured.  Councillors say the replacement bus service now being suggested by the Department for Transport is not an acceptable alternative.

“We still feel that a reliable train service that is properly promoted could be successful and actually less costly than the bus or coach alternative,”  added Cllr Keith Chambers, PTA lead member for rail services.

He said the future of the line could ultimately depend on a ‘use it, or lose it’ appeal to local people.

“An hourly service is still included in both the current rail timetable and the new timetable to be introduced by Network Rail in December for the first part of next year – so we have some time left to show there is a real demand for the rail link to continue,” he said.