London Midland train service chaos goes on
Dozens of trains were being cancelled by London Midland again today, with just two days to go before its self-imposed deadline on when problems would end.
The rail firm has cancelled more than 950 services since the start of October after losing more than 30 drivers within a short space of each other but has said that things will be back to normal on Sunday.
Today 39 services were scrapped with buses being used to replace some trains.
London Midland's commercial director Richard Brooks has previously said that timetable changes coming in on Sunday would allow the company to work around how it rosters drivers.
But a message on the company's website says it will continue to provide daily cancellation updates until Tuesday, December 11.
Seven new drivers have recently been taken on.
The company was unavailable for comment today but the message on its website says: "It takes well over a year to become a qualified train driver, but several of our trainees are now approaching the end of the course; this – along with a number of efficiencies – will ensure the shortfall is addressed by mid-December.
"However, we are working hard to ensure the impact on our passengers in the meantime is kept to an absolute minimum."
Services affected included the 4.49pm Wolverhampton to Walsall, which was terminating at Birmingham New Street.
Trains cancelled altogether included the 8.17pm Birmingham New Street to Rugeley Trent Valley, the 7.19pm Wolverhampton to Walsall and the 7.49pm and 9.20pm Wolverhampton to Birmingham New Street.
The 6.01pm Walsall to Wolverhampton, 8.40pm Walsall to Birmingham New Street, 9.40pm Rugeley Trent Valley to Birmingham New Street and 8.40pm Birmingham New Street to Wolverhampton were also cancelled.
