Hi Kez
THANK YOU so much. You are excellent at engaging and debating the WMCA's major expenditure, not to benefit the poor or to slow Climate Catastrophe but to worsen the plight of both in favour of the most greedy, luxurious and extravagant transport provision imaginable, viz: HS2, Metro and Sprint.
Since the 1990s, you have been the only 'ordinary' member of the public who has had the decency to argue your case coherently, intelligently and extremely well. I have had replies from Centro, the Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) and, since 2017, from TfWM/WMCA and conversation with countless officers and councillors at 16 Summer Lane and other council offices.
Since the 1990s I've been writing, first letters and then emails to Centro about the scandal of the Stourbridge to Walsall railway line being ready and waiting for its commuter trains to return. And, arguing against Metro trams spoiling it.
In the 2000s I came across this excellent colour brochure from the Railway Development Society, aka Railfuture since that decade.
I then learnt that this mainline railway runs from Stourbridge Jct all the way to Lichfield and on to Burton on Trent/Derby is almost totally unused! Yet, it runs alongside or near to major Black Country roads and Midland motorways - all choked with traffic congestion.
Even worse, millions have been spent on safeguarding the 120 Kms between Worcester stations and Derby station, with every crossing built as new roads and motorways were added across the railway. But still not used on the 56 Kms between Stourbridge Jct and Burton on Trent. Apart from steel freight coming up from Port Talbot but, only as far as Round Oak, next to the Waterfront complex, next to Merry Hill SC.
PHOTO of one new crossing on the wasted principal mainline:
QUOTES FOR THEIR INTENTION TO RETURN FREIGHT/PASSENGER TRAINS:
"Light rail investment provides the basis for restoring heavy rail services at the appropriate time." Tom Magrath, Passenger Services Director, Centro in a letter to me dated 18 September 2000.
"Passive provision" for both heavy rail and Light Rail and Very Light Rail will have it all sorted. Don't worry, Tim!
"We don't need freight trains on the railway until the 2040s, at the earliest."
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