| Walsall-Wolverhampton Line | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Locale | Wolverhampton Walsall West Midlands (region) |
| Operation | |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | Standard gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
The Walsall to Wolverhampton Line is a railway line in the West Midlands, England. It connects the town of Walsall to the city of Wolverhampton. For most of its length, it follows the part of the route of the original Grand Junction Railway.
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Passenger services, which are funded by Centro and operated by London Midland, operate hourly. These were reintroduced to the line in the late 1990s, having previously ceased as part of the Beeching Axe in 1965. However, the Strategic Rail Authority's West Coast Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy proposed the withdrawal of the service in December 2006. Centro opposed this, and the service continued. There were also proposals to reopen the stations at Willenhall Bilston Street and Portobello to increase passenger numbers and the viability of the service. During the early - mid 2000s, the line was used as part of an hourly service between Walsall and Wellington. But these services were withdrawn in 2006 and the service was reduced to an hourly service between Walsall and Wolverhampton, with only one or two trains per day in each direction extending to Wellington in the early morning and late at night.
There are only two stations:
It was announced in July 2008 that the government is withdrawing funding for this service, and as a result the route is proposed to be closed to passengers as of December 2008 - all services will be axed. However the line will be kept open for use to freight trains, Wrexham and Shropshire passenger services and will also be used as a diversionary route when the west coast line is closed for engineering works. The service was withdrawn on the 13th December 2008.
There is still one train per day that runs directly between Walsall and Wolverhampton in one direction on weekdays only. This train departs Walsall at 19:36.
A new service calling at all local stations via Birmingham New street will operate, however London Midland advise passengers to use the 529 bus service instead.[1]
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