New London Midland rail timetables aim to end misery
New train timetables that rail bosses hope will end months of disruptions were today unveiled. London Midland has overhauled services in Staffordshire and a service from Kidderminster will be run by Chiltern Railways.
The company has cancelled more than 950 services since the start of October because it lost 30 drivers in a short space of time. Despite it taking a year to train replacements the company believed things would be back to normal tomorrow because new timetables had allowed it to draw up new staff rotas.
However, updates on potential disruptions and cancellations will continue to be given until Tuesday.
Yesterday it had to cancel 39 trains. The off-peak trains to and from Rugeley Trent Valley on weekdays will run on the opposite half-hour from Monday. For example, trains currently arrive at Rugeley typically at 36 minutes past the hour, and leave at six minutes past the hour.
From Monday they will arrive at five past and leave at 39 minutes past the hour. Most trains have been re-timed to run faster with reduced journey times and will no longer call at Northampton, shaving 30 minutes off journeys.
Changes are also coming into effect on the line between Kidderminster, Stourbridge Junction and Birmingham Snow Hill.
London Midland spokesman Daniel Scaife said: "The weekday morning peak service west of Birmingham is altered to accommodate a new Chiltern Railways train. This includes the starting of the 7.18pm Kidderminster-Whitlocks End back from Worcester at 6.56am and will give Hartlebury a fourth train into Birmingham in the morning."
Chiltern Railways has taken on the 6.47am service from Worcester but will start it from Kidderminster at 7.10am. Transport authority Centro has criticised the company for failing to meet its timetable.
