London Midland trains - all local services cancelled today

Sep 6 2009 by Fionnuala Bourke, Sunday Mercury

TRAINS across the Midlands have hit the buffers today – with London Midland cancelling ALL its local services ­because they don’t have the staff to run them.

The company, which operates more than 1,200 services a day to 149 stations, admitted all trains will be cancelled except those on the Birmingham to Liverpool line.

It means routes criss-crossing the West Midlands, including the busy cross-city line from Redditch to Lichfield, will be at a standstill.

Drivers usually work on a voluntary basis on Sundays but this week have failed to put themselves forward for the shift, and bosses cannot force them to come in.

Passengers have been advised to avoid travel if possible and arrangements have been made for other operators, including Virgin Trains and Chiltern Railways, to accept London Midland tickets. Efforts are also being made to arrange replacement buses on some routes.

Company chiefs last night warned: “If you’re travelling by train this weekend, please be aware that there will be no London Midland trains running on Sunday, September 6, 2009, except between Birmingham and Liverpool, due to a staff shortage.

“For the majority of London Midland on train staff, working on Sundays has always been voluntary.