CCTV to keep lifts in operation at stations

The company, which runs lines between Kidderminster and Stratford-on-Avon and between Wolverhampton and Birmingham, has won approval from the Department for Transport to introduce reductions in staffing levels and ticket office opening hours for 86 stations. Many of these are in the West Midlands – including Stourbridge, Sandwell and central Birmingham.

A consequence of the staff cuts is lifts need to be turned off by the last worker leaving the building for safety reasons.

That causes problems for passengers wanting to use the three-levelled Smethwick Galton Bridge for example, when the station is not manned. Staffing hours are being reduced there from 6.09am to 11.37pm down to between 6.15am and 1pm Monday to Friday.

London Midland has now confirmed it is in talks to install CCTV cameras so workers at another location can monitor the lifts in case of any problems. This means they can be kept open despite the lack of staff.

Passengers would still push buttons to operate the lifts if they were monitored, but camera operators would watch out in case of any maintenance problems or emergencies.

Richard Brooks, commercial director at London Midland, said: "As the lifts are owned by Network Rail we are currently discussing with them the best way to achieve this and we are expecting to agree a way forward in the coming weeks."

However, Smethwick councillor Roger Horton, also the lead member for rail on the region's transport authority Centro, criticised that solution. He said: "You've got to ask what is the back-up if it breaks. If it breaks down and there is monitoring, where are the people to put it right on site?

"You could be stuck in there for hours."

Centro opposed the staff cuts when they were first proposed last year. They were approved last month.