Chase Line Information
The CHASE LINE train service runs from Walsall through the Cannock Chase area to Stafford, and is married with Walsall Line services to provide direct links with Birmingham. It is supported by Centro (the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive), Staffordshire County Council and Cannock Chase District Council, with services operated by Central Trains Limited.
CHASE LINE trains take just under 30 minutes to travel from Rugeley Town to Walsall, and 40 minutes from Cannock to Birmingham. Rugeley Town to Stafford journeys take 15-20 minutes on average.
Avoid the traffic queues and parking problems at Walsall and Birmingham by taking the train. At peak periods, trains run to a 20-30 minute frequency. A Centro Railmaster pass valid from Rugeley (Trent Valley and Town), Hednesford, Cannock and Landywood to all West Midlands stations costs £49.50 for four weeks. (The ticket is also available from Stafford, for a slightly higher price. See publicity for details.) A large saving can be made on this if the Centro direct debit scheme is used - a monthly pass (giving two to three days extra than a 28-day pass most months) currently costs £41 - a saving of £8.50.
Stafford, Walsall and Birmingham are ideal for shopping, with their extensive shopping areas featuring big-name stores. Birmingham New Street and Walsall stations are located within shopping centres, and Stafford is within easy walking distance of the town centre.
Visit Stafford Castle, or take a stroll around Walsall Arboretum or Cannock Chase. Two major theatres, museums, cinemas and a bowling alley and skating rink are all close to Birmingham New Street station, or alternatively travel a little further afield from New Street to Cadbury's World, Sutton Park or Stratford upon Avon, amongst other places.
SUNDAY and EVENING services between Birmingham, Walsall and all stations to Hednesford (and onwards to Rugeley on Sundays) provide extra leisure opportunities for residents living near the CHASE LINE. Spend a day in London without having to worry about returning too soon, or an evening out on the town in Birmingham or Wolverhampton (changing at Walsall). Most shops in Birmingham are now open for Sunday shopping, and many tourist attractions are open.
Free car parking space is available at the two Rugeley stations, Hednesford, Cannock, Landywood and Bloxwich North. Pay and display car parking is available at Stafford, and non-railway operated car parking is available at Walsall. Cannock station's car park is currently free, but charges are due to be introduced soon when CCTV cameras are installed. (It is not known when this will take place, as the camera polls have been in place since July 2000.) Hednesford and Rugeley Town may also see cameras within the next few years.
Stafford, Hednesford, Cannock, Landywood, the two Bloxwich stations, Walsall and Birmingham New Street all have easy access facilities (with either sloped entrances to the platforms and a route from one platform to another without having to climb steps, or lifts). Rugeley Town has slopped entrances to its platforms but only a footbridge with steps to change from one platform to another. Access to platform 1 of Rugeley Trent Valley (where all CHASE LINE trains call in both directions) is via a footbridge with steps.
Disabled passengers wishing to travel on CHASE LINE trains are requested to contact Central Trains on (0121) 654 4288 at least 24 hours in advance if possible, so that special equipment can be deployed with the train to enable easy boarding and departing.
All CHASE LINE stations are fitted with help boxes, from which passengers can obtain train running information or emergency assistance without having to leave the platform. Some stations are also fitted with speakers. Information monitors are installed on all platforms at Birmingham New Street, Walsall and Stafford. Telephones are available on the station at Bloxwich, Bloxwich North, Hednesford, Stafford and some staffed stations in the Centro area. There are also telephones by the car parks at Cannock and Landywood.
On CHASE LINE trains, and other local services within the West Midlands county, cycles are carried free of charge. Passengers are advised that space may not be available on certain peak services.
Tickets for a wide range of destinations can be purchased on the train from the conductors, and payment can be made by cash, or credit or debit cards, including Switch. Seven day rail passes can also be purchased, though passes of longer duration must be obtained from staffed stations such as Walsall or Birmingham New Street. Passengers are advised, though, that discount tickets such as cheap day returns are not available if you board the train at a staffed station without a valid ticket. Centrocards, allowing bus and rail travel in the West Midlands, are valid in Bloxwich and Bloxwich North - for stations north of the Centro boundary, an add-on ticket is needed. Daytripper tickets are valid up to Bloxwich North only (again, an add-on ticket is available for all stations to Rugeley Trent Valley), but Dayrangers are valid for the entire length of the CHASE LINE, and further afield. Contact the Centro hotline on (0121) 200 2700 for further details.
Central Trains offers a special 'Airport Flyer' ticket for stations in the West Midlands and slightly beyond. This ticket is available as Adult, Child or Family (family being 1-2 adults and 1-4 children), and allows outward travel to Birmingham International airport, plus return within one month (but not on the same day as outward travel). Prices for Bloxwich - Hednesford stations: Adult £5.25, Child £3.25, Family £13.75. For Rugeley Town, Trent Valley and Stafford, prices are: Adult £7.80, Child £3.90, Family £21.80. These prices are expected to be accurate until 21 May 2001, at which point they may be revised. Advanced booking is not necessary - they can be purchased on the train.
Fast and frequent trains run from Birmingham New Street to London, the East Midlands, York, Newcastle, the South and other locations. Connections at Walsall are available to Wolverhampton. Stafford is convenient for connections with trains to Stoke on Trent, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.
Usually a near-normal timetable runs on Bank holidays for the entire length of the CHASE LINE. For details of Bank Holiday arrangements, contact the National Rail Enquiries line on 08457 484950, or the Centro Hotline on (0121) 200 2700. Bank holiday services also generally run on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and Good Friday. (There is no service on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.)
