Local MP Kevin Foster recently contacted the Rail Minister for an update on Cross Country Trains' proposals to potentially cut direct services to the Bay from the North and the Midlands.
Kevin has led a campaign of local business and tourist bodies opposing the train company's cuts, and worked with the Herald Expressto obtain a petition of over 1000 signatures from local people opposed to these cuts.
Kevin has today been advised that Cross Country and the Department for Transport have been engaged in discussions on what next steps are possible in light of feedback, including Kevin's petition.
Kevin has been informed that these discussions were not concluded within sufficient time to meet Network Rail's deadline for submitting a timetable for this December. Consequently details included in the next timetable, that will become available to view on Sunday 10th September, will not contain any of the changes - including the cuts to services to the Bay - that were consulted on.
Kevin has been told that the discussions between Cross Country Trains and the Department for Transport remain ongoing. While Kevin welcomes this apparent suspension of the cuts to services proposal, he will remain watchful to see what further news is released by Cross Country Trains.