Letter to Stourbridge News on high speed rail

The high speed train will link the Midlands to the North West and Glasgow, Yorkshire, the North East and Edinburgh, and London, Paris, Brussels and beyond. This is excellent news for jobs in the Midlands. It is also excellent news for the environment. Train should replace many car journeys and all short-haul air flights.

But three things must be said. First, it really is a case of better late than never. Despite all promises of an integrated transport policy, Labour has dithered and dithered and let years of opportunity slip. Secondly the whole exercise will be worse than useless unless the fares are low enough to encourage train travel.

And thirdly, what about Stourbridge? Is it too much to ask that Stourbridge Junction should be linked directly into the new network with direct trains to the new Birmingham Curzon Street Station and direct trains to the new Birmingham International Interchange? Stourbridge has for too long been the poor relation for train links. Every Stourbridge organisation and everyone claiming to represent Stourbridge needs to get lobbying now.

Yours sincerely

Chris Bramall,

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate,

Stourbridge constituency

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Published and promoted by Simon Hanson on behalf of the Stourbridge Liberal Democrats,

both at 53 Chawn Hill, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY9 7JA