Kidsgrove to keep direct London rail link

Station low resThe new operator for the West Midlands rail network has confirmed that the direct train service to London will continue to call at Kidsgrove, Stone and Alsager stations.

There had been concerns that the new operators, West Midland Trains, would change the route when they take over in December meaning that passengers would have to change at Stafford to get to London but they have now confirmed that they are keeping the route which means Kidsgrove, Stone and Alsager are due to keep a direct service to London Euston.

A West Midlands Rail spokesman said: “The new franchisee will continue to run direct services to London from Stone, Kidsgrove, Alsager and Stoke. The only difference from December 2018 is that those services will go to Euston via Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Birmingham Airport and Coventry rather than via Tamworth and Lichfield on the Trent Valley line.

“The change of route for London-bound services so they run through the heart of the West Midlands conurbation follows a major public consultation in 2015 when the majority of passengers said they wanted more trains from Stone, Kidsgrove, Alsager and Stoke to Birmingham.

“Not only will there be no loss under the new franchise of direct services to London from these Staffordshire stations but passengers will also continue to have two Virgin services an hour from Stoke to London.”

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