The designated service allows for a more flexible approach to be adopted by the train operating company (East Midlands Trains) working alongside the local community rail partnership. This enables them to manage the service with greater emphasis on meeting local needs. Together they will continue to look for ways to increase patronage and improve the service.
Lord Adonis, Minister of State for Transport said:
"I am delighted to make this announcement. Designation of the North Staffordshire Line service as a Community Rail service is good news. It means that local communities can become even more involved in how these services run and ultimately encourage more passengers to use them."
Commenting, Tim Shoveller, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains said:
"As a company committed to the development of community rail, we fully support this designation. We look forward to working with our colleagues on the North Staffordshire Line to bring further improvements along the line, and to encourage more people to travel by train".
Michael Willmot, Chairman of the North Staffordshire Line Community Rail Partnership said:
"I believe community service designation will bring further recognition of the work of the North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership which has already been instrumental in attracting over £1/2 million to improve station facilities along the line. Consequently over the past two years the line has seen some of the strongest rates of passenger growth of any outside the London commuter area. I welcome community service designation as a further step towards a successful and productive partnership between the rail industry, local authorities and rail users which can only result in further growth in passenger numbers and in improving the service to meet these passengers' needs."
