The Shuttle has seen many quality-of-life changes that will see the operation run smoothly.

Prioritising the comfort of our passengers, Pre Metro worked with West Midlands Railways and WMRE to refurbish the vehicles with new seating; grab poles; and a visually distinct colour scheme.

With the passenger capacity limited due to Covid restrictions, more seating will be fitted at a later date.

Geoff Lusher, Chairman of Pre Metro, stated that:

“We are delighted to have welcomed our passengers back on board and are sure that they will appreciate the enhancements, not only on the vehicles but also the improved surroundings and safety of the track between the town and the Junction.

We look forward to future works which will ensure the Shuttle ride is as stable and smooth as possible for our passengers.”

A big thank you goes out to all our engineering staff and the Head of Operations.

Working around the clock, they ensured the vehicles were deep cleaned, painted, and refurbished in time for service at 06:15 on Monday, 22nd February.

This was a tall order but they got the job done!

Pre Metro’s thanks also go to Network Rail, who cleared the line of any impeding foliage and potentially unstable trees along the banks that could have posed a threat to the track and service.

We are pleased that this initial phase of improvements was a success and we look forward to the final phase when the track is relayed and welded to provide more traction between the vehicle wheels and track.

This next step will take place between the 9th and 13th of March, so be aware that the Shuttle is once again out of service during this period.

We thank you all for your patience and look forward to an even more reliable and comfortable service soon.