A public transport watchdog that opposed cuts in rail services to the NEC and Birmingham International Airport is welcoming news that the services are to get back on track before Christmas.

Local councillors on the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority called a rail industry summit last year when they found ‘turn-up-and-go’ services were to end on the region’s busiest line between Birmingham New Street and Coventry.

Now Network Rail has agreed to reinstate more regular trains as part of a timetable revision from December this year.

“People had been so used to regular trains to the NEC and the Airport that there was never any real reason to check a timetable,” says PTA chairman Cllr Gary Clarke.  “When that came to an end we complained very forcibly on behalf of local passengers and business interests.”

Network Rail will be commissioning a new set of points at Birmingham International to allow for an improved service pattern.  The timetable to be introduced in December means the longest wait at New Street for a train to International will be reduced to 14 minutes during weekday services and the maximum wait at Coventry will be 18 minutes.

“The new timetable will offer other improvements such as a direct link between the Walsall line and Birmingham International, faster journeys for local services on the Birmingham to Coventry line and some better journey opportunities from Coseley and Sandwell and Dudley,” adds Cllr Clarke.

The PTA’s Transport Strategy Committee is being recommended to endorse the new timetable at its meeting on Monday 5 September.