Letter from Cllr Peter Lowe, Leader of Dudley MBC

21 July 2015

Dear Mr Weller

Re The Rail Crisis and HS2

Further to your letter to the Times of the 29 of June copied to the Council I would make the

following comments.

I am sure you will be aware that the Staffordshire line fell to Dr Beeching’s axe in the early

1960’s as part of swinging cuts to those parts of the railway network which were uneconomic in

this case for passenger heavy rail services.  Although it continued to be used for freight services

the line was finally mothballed in the 1980’s.

The reintroduction of heavy rail services on the Staffordshire line, as you discuss in your letter,

has been investigated a number of times since its closure but has proved to be as uneconomic

as when it was originally closed in the 1960’s.  Unfortunately heavy rail cannot deliver the

frequency and accessibility provided by the latest tram technology and so although apparently

easier to implement struggles to compete in the inter urban context.

The Black Country District Councils, although still strong supporters of the Metro proposals,

recognise the difficulties in bringing them forward.  We have therefore recently commissioned a

new rapid transit study to consider the best way to deliver improvements to passengers’

services and in particular utilising the abandoned rail lines.  I believe you may have provided

input to the study being overseen by Walsall Council on behalf of the Black Country.

With regard to the development of a new lighter and cheaper light rail passenger system known

as Very Light Rail you will also be aware that Dudley Council are working with Warwick

Manufacturing Group to build an innovation centre at Castle Hill.  I can assure you that the

centre which will include a test track on the mothballed line will not affect any of the current

proposals for passenger services or the need to reintroduce freight services at some future date

as demand dictates.  The development of the centre and of the technology it will produce is not

a pre-requisite for its use in the Black Country but I assume if successful could be considered at

some future time.

I hope this clarifies the situation and allays some of your concerns regarding the future

reintroduction of passengers’ services on the old Staffordshire line.

Yours sincerely

Sarah Norman          Peter Lowe

Chief Executive Leader of the Council

Cfi. M.Holloway - Head of Traffic & Transportation