Harry Brunt, who is retired and from Stone, said: "We have been asking for trains to stop here again for five or six years. I regularly go to Birmingham, and at the moment I have to drive to Stafford, find somewhere to park, and get the train from there."

James Pawley, aged 27, of Stafford, who helps to run Greenheart Plants in Stafford, said: "It's really good for such a small town.

"It just goes to show that people are getting their skates on and improving transport links."

Becky Moseley, of Stone, who is the owner of Wikijum, in Stone, said: "It's a brilliant idea and should have happened a long time ago. It has been delayed for far too long. I will definitely be using the trains myself.

"The sooner they start running the better."