Calls for rail link to National Memorial Arboretum

Mr Fabricant, pictured discussing the issue with officials in 2022

A Staffordshire MP has repeated calls for passenger rail services to the National Memorial Arboretum following a discussion in Parliament on Thursday.

Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant said the proposals - which could cost more than £10m - would offer hundreds of thousands of visitors an alternative to travelling by road to the country’s national remembrance site.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper told Mr Fabricant funding had been provided to the local authority for transport schemes following the cancellation of Phase 2 of HS2.

Staffordshire County Council said a range of transport projects could be considered.

At the moment, visitors can only visit the site by car.

If approved, the scheme would see services in place between Burton and Birmingham via Lichfield.

Mr Fabricant said: “The extension of the Birmingham to Lichfield cross city line goes all the way to Burton and passes the National Memorial Arboretum.

“At the moment, it’s only used for freight, and I was told four years ago that the cost of upgrading it for passenger traffic would only be about £10m, which is nothing in the great scheme of things.”

Mr Harper said: “It’s for local authorities to promote schemes for transport in their area.

"However, I’m pleased to tell him that following our decision to cancel the second phase of HS2, we have now been able to make significant funds available to his local authority, Staffordshire County Council, which is going to get just under £260m from the Local Transport Fund.”

Mr Fabricant said bosses at the National Memorial Arboretum had agreed the scheme would be valuable to the economy.

He added: “It will provide a national rail link to the arboretum for the hundreds of thousands of veterans who visit from all over the country.”

He said he would ask the county council to consider the scheme and hoped it could now be implemented.

David Williams, cabinet member for highways and transport at the Staffordshire County Council said: “This is funding pledged from 2025-26 and a range of transport projects could be considered.”