Regional rail passengers will still be able to use their Network West Midlands tickets on Cross Country train services when Arriva takes over the franchise from Virgin in November.
 
Regional transport body Centro-WMPTA has welcomed the news from the Department for Transport, after it had been feared that the eventual winner of the franchise might refuse to accept Network West Midlands tickets. It means that holders of valid Network West Midlands passes, including the popular nnetwork and ntrain season tickets, can still use their tickets on all train operators’ services in the Network West Midlands area.
 
Centro-WMPTA had originally expressed concerns, earlier this year, to the Department for Transport and the train companies bidding to run the Cross Country franchise, about the possibility of the tickets not being accepted. It was feared that if the new operator of Cross Country had refused to accept Network West Midlands tickets then local rail passengers would get confused about which services their passes were valid on.
 
Non-acceptance of the tickets would also have been at odds with the integrated rail, bus and metro system that Centro-WMPTA has been working to provide in the region through its Network West Midlands initiative.
 
Cllr Gary Clarke, Chairman of Centro-WMPTA said: “We are extremely pleased that the Department for Transport and Arriva have taken note of our comments and that the new operator is happy to accept Network West Midlands tickets on Cross Country trains. “We also welcome Arriva’s commitment to introduce 40 additional carriages and provide a 35 per cent increase in seating capacity on key services during the evening peak period by June 2009.This will play a key part in helping us achieve our aim of providing the West Midlands with a World Class public transport system.”
 
Cllr Roger Horton, Centro-WMPTA lead member for Rail and Metro Operations added: “The new Cross Country franchise will continue to play an important role in the West Midlands travel to work area linking Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Leamington Spa, Stafford, Tamworth and Nuneaton. “The continued acceptance of nnetwork and ntrain season ticket products will greatly assist the integration of local public transport under the Network West Midlands banner.”