Amanda Milling, Member of Parliament for Cannock Chase, has once again raised issues experienced by Chase Line users in the House of Commons.
Speaking in Transport questions, the Cannock Chase MP questioned the Rt Hon Patrick Mcloughlin, Secretary of State for Transport, Amanda Milling over the plight of Chase Line users following numerous complaints of overcrowded, delayed and cancelled trains. She was keen to ensure that the Government and London Midland are fully aware of the concerns about the service and that these are quickly resolved. This question follows several letters she has written to London Midland outlining the frustrations of residents of Rugeley, Cannock and Hednesford, seeking commitments that the issue will be dealt with and not repeated in the future.
Amanda also used this as an opportunity to seek reassurances that the Chase Line electrification project is on schedule, recognising that this should help to alleviate many of the issues faced by rail users.
Responding to Amanda’s concerns, the Secretary of State for Transport, who had recently visited Hednesford said that he saw for himself that the works on the Chase Line were underway. Having grown up in the area, Patrick McLoughlin knows it well and remarked on various sites where he had noticed that electrification work had already started on the line.
Amanda Milling has also written to London Midland seeking reassurances that trains will be operating promptly upon completion of the electrification work.
She said: “I am keen to ensure that London Midland commit to operating electric trains, which will have much more frequent services and many more seats than the current diesel trains, as soon as the works are complete. I won’t accept a situation where the works are complete and connected but local residents are having to contest with the current overcrowding issues that are all too familiar to line users.”
The electrification of the Chase Line is due to be completed by the end of 2017.