Rail services disrupted by lack of crew - operator

Train services have been disrupted across the West Midlands Railway (WMR) network because of a lack of available crew, the operator has said.

WMR posted warnings of disruption on the Snow Hill and Hereford lines, and its website said other routes covering Birmingham, Worcester, Kidderminster, Stratford, Leamington Spa, Redditch, Lichfield, Walsall and Nuneaton were affected.

After social media users complained, the company tweeted it had drawn up an action plan to improve driver availability.

The train drivers' union, Aslef, said the company needed to employ enough drivers.

The BBC has approached the rail operator for further comment.

On X, Ledbury Dan posted: “I see the management have decided that the Herefordshire yokels can take your issues on the chin again.”

He added: “We don't want rail replacements. We want you to sort your staffing issues out and to stop cancelling Hereford trains by default.”

St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Malvern, wrote: “You refuse to put an actual timescale on when you will operate the timetable correctly.”

A company spokeswoman responded on social media: “I do apologise for the recent disruption. We are fully committed to improving performance and have drawn up an action plan to improve driver availability. We are also taking steps to improve the rail replacement provision should it be required.”

WMR had warned of disruption on its Snow Hill Lines, Hereford Line, Cross City Line, Chase Line and Elephant and Bear Line.

It said resourcing teams would work to provide cover where possible but it urged customers to check their journeys on the morning of travel.

Keith Richmond, a spokesman for Aslef, said: "The company needs to employ enough drivers to deliver the services it has promised passengers and the Department for Transport it will run."

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