Virgin Trains ran long-distance intercity services on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) between major cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow.

Lichfield Trent Valley stop Some Virgin Trains services did stop at Lichfield Trent Valley, but not all. The station was an occasional stop on selected London–North West services, depending on the timetable and service pattern. Over time, stopping patterns changed, and extra stops were sometimes added due to passenger demand or timetable adjustments. Key clarification Virgin Trains no longer exists (it ceased operating in December 2019 and was replaced by Avanti West Coast). Today, similar services on that route are run by Avanti West Coast, which continues to serve the WCML including nearby stations like Lichfield Trent Valley.y.

Campaign for Rail http://www.campaignforrail.org.uk/

Campaign for Rail is a voluntary organisation made up of rail users that campaigns for and promotes the development of rail services—both passenger and freight—across the West Midlands region.

It works with decision-makers, including rail companies and government bodies at local and national level, to influence improvements to the rail network.

The group also supports station and line user groups and aims to give rail passengers an effective, collective voice in shaping rail services in the region.

HS2 (High Speed 2) http://www.hs2.org.uk/

HS2 is a high-speed railway project in Britain designed to improve capacity and connectivity between major cities. It was originally planned to link London with the Midlands, the North of England, and Yorkshire.

However, following government decisions in 2023, the project has been scaled back. HS2 is now primarily focused on the section between London (Euston) and the West Midlands (Birmingham area), with extensions to Manchester and the East Midlands/Yorkshire no longer proceeding.

The project aims to:

Increase rail capacity on heavily used routes Reduce journey times Support economic growth and regional development

Lichfield District Council http://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/

Lichfield District Council is the local authority for the Lichfield District in Staffordshire, responsible for delivering a range of public services to residents and businesses in the area.

Its responsibilities include:

Waste collection and recycling Housing services and homelessness support Planning and building control Collection of council tax and business rates Environmental health and food safety Parks, leisure facilities, and open spaces Licensing, business support, and local economic development

The council also works to support local communities, economic growth, and environmental quality, aiming to create a clean, safe, and prosperous district.

London Northwestern Railway is a trading entity of West Midlands Trains, a consortium with Abellio (owned by the Dutch national rail operator) having a 70% share and JR East and Mitsui having a 15% share each. It operates local and semi fast services on the West Coast Main Line out of London Euston, including the hourly semi fast service from London Euston to Crewe, which serves Lichfield Trent Valley. It also operates the Birmingham New St to Liverpool Lime St. service, the Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey branch and the Bletchley to Bedford service.

National Rail Enquiries http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

National Rail Enquiries is the official customer information service for passenger rail services in Great Britain, providing comprehensive travel information across the national rail network.

It is managed on behalf of the rail industry by the Rail Delivery Group (which replaced the former Association of Train Operating Companies).

The service includes:

A real-time journey planner Train times and fares information Live departure and arrival updates Details of station facilities and accessibility Information on service disruptions and engineering works

National Rail Enquiries aims to provide passengers with a single, reliable source of information for planning and making rail journeys across the UK.

Network Rail is the owner of most of the railway infrastructure, including track, signals and stations.

Transport Focus (formerly Passenger Focus) http://www.transportfocus.org.uk/

Transport Focus is the independent consumer watchdog for transport users in Great Britain, representing the interests of rail, bus, and coach passengers.

Previously known as Passenger Focus (the operating name of the Passengers’ Council), the organisation was rebranded as Transport Focus in 2015.

Its role includes:

Representing passenger interests to government and the transport industry Conducting research and surveys on passenger satisfaction Investigating complaints and systemic issues Campaigning for improvements to services and value for money

Transport Focus aims to ensure that passengers have a strong, independent voice in how transport services are planned and delivered.

Rail Delivery Group (RDG)

Website: https://www.raildeliverygroup.com

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) is the main umbrella body for Great Britain’s rail industry, bringing together organisations across the network.

What it is An industry membership organisation owned by its members Members include: Network Rail (infrastructure owner) Passenger train operating companies (TOCs) Freight operating companies Other industry partners (e.g. supply chain groups, HS2)

It evolved from and replaced the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), taking on its functions and expanding beyond them.

What RDG does

RDG works on behalf of the whole rail industry, rather than running trains itself.

Key roles include:

Industry coordination & leadership Brings together different rail organisations to align strategy and operations Policy and strategy Helps shape rail policy and long-term planning across the network Customer information & communications Responsible for National Rail Enquiries Manages public-facing messaging for the rail industry Ticketing & fares systems Defines ticket validity rules and routing Oversees systems like revenue allocation (e.g. ORCATS) Brand ownership Owns the National Rail brand and related schemes (e.g. Railcards) In simple terms

Think of RDG as the “central coordinating body” of Britain’s railways:

It doesn’t run trains It connects and represents the organisations that do It helps ensure the system works as a single national network rather than disconnected companies

Railfuture

http://www.railfuture.org.uk

Railfuture is an independent voluntary organisation campaigning for better rail services for passengers and freight.

It focuses on:

Reopening railway lines and stations Expanding rail services and infrastructure Promoting rail freight Influencing policy through campaigns and lobbying

SouthStaffsRail http://southstaffsrail.webs.com/

SouthStaffsRail is a local rail campaign and enthusiast group dedicated to promoting the reopening of the railway line between Lichfield and Walsall.

The former railway route is currently used in parts as a walking and cycling pathway, providing a valuable local leisure and active travel resource. The group supports maintaining and enhancing these benefits alongside any future rail reinstatement.

SouthStaffsRail advocates for enhanced rail connectivity across South Staffordshire and the wider West Midlands, highlighting the significant benefits that reinstating the line could deliver, including:

The restoration of passenger rail services Increased capacity for freight transport Reduced road congestion Support for local economic growth

The Rail Strategy constitutes an integral component of Staffordshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan (LTP), which establishes the strategic framework for the development and delivery of transport provision across Staffordshire.

Strategic transport authorities are required to prepare Local Transport Plans and submit them to the Department for Transport, setting out their policies, priorities, and proposals for the enhancement of transport infrastructure and services in support of economic development, connectivity, and environmental sustainability..

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is the transport authority for the West Midlands region in England. It was created under the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

It is responsible for:

Planning and coordinating transport investment across the region Developing an integrated transport network (buses, trams, rail coordination, cycling, etc.) Improving safety, accessibility, and reliability of transport services Forecasting and planning for future transport demand linked to population and economic growth

TfWM also took over the functions of Centro (West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive), meaning it inherited responsibilities, assets, and operational roles from that organisation.

In short, it acts as the strategic transport body for the West Midlands, aiming to make different modes of transport work together more effectively.

Visit Lichfield (visitlichfield.co.uk) is the official tourism website for Lichfield District, run by the Lichfield District Tourism Association and supported by Lichfield District Council.

It acts as a central guide for anyone planning a visit to the area, offering information on:

Things to do – attractions such as Lichfield Cathedral, Erasmus Darwin House, Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, Beacon Park, and the National Memorial Arboretum nearby What’s on – local events, festivals, theatre shows, and seasonal activities across the district Places to eat and drink – restaurants, cafés, and pubs in the city and surrounding area Accommodation – hotels, B&Bs, and short stays for visitors Guides and itineraries – including group visits and themed tours of Lichfield and Staffordshire Visitor inspiration – blogs, walking routes, maps, and travel ideas

In short, it’s the main tourism hub for Lichfield, designed to help visitors plan day trips, weekends, or longer stays in the city and wider district.

West Coast Rail 250 is a non-party-political organisation which campaigns for improved and environmentally sustainable rail services along the West Coast Main Line to support economic growth and employment.

West Midlands Railway is a trading entity of West Midlands Trains, a consortium with Abellio (owned by the Dutch national rail operator) having a 70% share and JR East and Mitsui having a 15% share each. It operates local services in the West Midlands, including the Cross City Line from Lichfield to Birmingham and Redditch and the Chase Line from Rugeley to Birmingham.