Virgin High Frequency timetable queries

[Boothby97]

Firstly, apologies if there is a thread already on this subject.
So,I've heard about the VHF timetable before, and the criticism that was caused due to the reduction in trains serving smaller stations in the Trent Valley area, but I've been searching and not found much reference to this. I know that some stations were closed on the Stoke-Nuneaton section (Wedgewood, Barlston, Norton Bridge which are still closed and Stone, Polesworth and Atherstone which have reopened), and eventually Central (?) introduced a limited Stoke-Coventry service using 150/153s. I think I have that all correct (and the station names spelt correctly).
So, what I want to ask is, what were services like in Trent valley area pre VHF, and post VHF?

Thanks, Sam

 

[MidnightFlyer]

It's the Stoke-Stafford line where the stations 'closed' (but are still technically (by law) open) - Wedgwood, Barlaston, Stone and Norton Bridge used to be served by local trains between the two until c. 2003 when it was replaced by a bus. During the next 5 years or so all 4 remained train-less, until after the modernisation work, where Stone regained its trains by means of London Midland's Crewe-Euston hourly service. All 4 retain the bus replacement, and Norton Bridge had its footbridge removed during the intermediate period of bustitution, making its island platform now totally inaccessible. Similarly Wedgwood and Barlaston have had their platforms blocked off from the level crossings which used to provide access.

Atherstone gained hugely from the works, it had a sporadic service like Polesworth before VHF, when LM's CRE-EUS, like Stone, began to call hourly. Polesworth had its footbridge removed during the modernisation too, leaving the southbound platform inaccessible, and it is currently only served once a day by the first northbound LM service.

The service through the Trent Valley was rather poor locally pre-2008 (when VHF came in) - it was normally a 153 (I think) shuttling back and forth all day between Rugby and Stafford, serving all calling points between, but only making about 6 return trips a day. Nuneaton had an hourly VT service calling pre-VHF, the Liverpool-Euston trains; which were lost post-VHF, replaced by LM's CRE-EUS service. Similarly this serves Rugeley TV (which replaced the hourly Chase line trains to Stafford which were cut to Rugelrey TV in 2008), Lichfield TV and Tamworth.