AddThis SmartLayers

Newspaper launches bid to save patch’s rail services

save-our-trainsA campaign to save a newspaper’s patch from “savage cuts” to its railways has been launched.

The Torquay Herald Express has announced the launch of its Save Our Trains campaign, and is urging readers to sign a petition on its website.

The campaign began after operator CrossCountry said it planned to cut all bar one direct morning service between Paignton and major cities including Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester.

Torbay Rail Users Group has claimed the cuts could damage Torbay’s economy to the tune of £5m every year.

Herald Express editor Jim Parker told HTFP: “We have launched the Save Our Trains campaign both in-paper and online in a bid to stop the planned savage cuts to Cross Country services in and out of South Devon.

“We have joined forces with business leaders, especially from our tourism and hospitality industry, and politicians to encourage our readers to sign up to protest petitions against the proposals which it is feared will turn Torbay into a virtual branch line and have a huge damaging impact on our local economy.

“I think it is really important for a local newspaper to fight for its local community on issues which will have a detrimental effect on it and this is one example.

“We have already had hundreds sign up on our website.”