"Rail partnership criticises 'ridiculous' funding cut", from the BBC (3/2/2010)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Not our area, admittedly, but perhaps a rather worrying sign of the times we live in - from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

A group promoting rail travel on rural routes has criticised the withdrawal of ^10,000 funding by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)))) as "ridiculous".
The Chester-Shrewsbury Rail Partnership (CSRP) has helped promote and develop rail services to and from north east Wales.
ATW said funds were being diverted elsewhere because of the "success of the line".
CSRP said it was wrong to cut funding because the scheme had done well.
Chairman Mansel Williams said the group, which works with local authorities, rail users and others, had been highly successful.
He said the cut would not leave the group "high and dry", and most of its funding came from the Wrexham, Cheshire and Shropshire councils.
Mr Williams, a Shropshire councillor, added: "We have this incredible statement from them [ATW] that it's 'job done'.
"But it's absolutely not job done. We're developing all the time.
"The Chester-Shrewsbury Rail Partnership has been a success story we can all be very proud of.
"It's better for Wales, better for the Welsh Marches, better for the north west of England - why are they doing it?
"It's like saying we have four carriages, they're all full, and there's no need to worry about the passengers waiting on the platform. You can't do that sort of thing."
Wrexham MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Ian Lucas, who has written to the company, said: "This seems to have come as a bolt out of the blue and I am hoping Arriva Trains Wales have a satisfactory explanation.
"Unfortunately, at the moment, it appears rail users may lose out as a result of the company's actions."
ATW said the funding was set up to provide additional marketing and promotional support for rural lines with limited services.
It said it was grateful to the rail partnership for supporting and promoting the development of services.
It added: "Because of the success of the line and the fact that it has a prosperous future, Arriva Trains Wales will be diverting the funding to other routes where further improvements and support will aid their future development."
The company said it would continue working with the partnership and is "looking at options to further develop facilities and services on this line".