Passengers frustrated after train services between Walsall and Birmingham hit by points failure

Many were forced to switch to bus services on Thursday morning due to the issues.

Cancelled services included the 7.25am from Walsall to New Street and the train that followed, halted at Hamstead due to the track issues. The 8.43am from Perry Barr going in the opposite direction was also cancelled as a result.

Network Rail apologised for the problems which it blamed on a points failure that also affected trains running between Lichfield and Birmingham.

Frustrated commuter Adam Webster-Smith, 47, was heading to work in Wolverhampton when he was advised to catch a bus instead by station staff.

"I'm upset but not shocked by the cancelled trains. I was waiting for the 8.43 at Perry Barr heading to work via Walsall when a message came that it was delayed. I asked the station person whether it was going to be cancelled at which point I was advised to catch the bus.

"There is no point building a new railway station when there are no trains to catch. People are going to lose trust in the service."

In a statement Network Rail said: “We're sorry to passengers affected by a points failure at 7.20am - in Aston, in Birmingham, which delayed services on the Cross City line and to Gravelly Hill and Walsall.

"We thank people for their patience while our engineers worked as fast as they could to repair the points by 9am.”