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More London Midland trains cancelled over staff shortages | More London Midland trains cancelled over staff shortages |
(about 4 hours later) | |
More than 30 trains in and out of Birmingham have been cancelled because of a shortage of drivers. | More than 30 trains in and out of Birmingham have been cancelled because of a shortage of drivers. |
London Midland has cancelled trains on the Birmingham-Coventry-Northampton, Lichfield-Birmingham-Redditch and Wolverhampton-Birmingham-Walsall/Rugeley routes. | London Midland has cancelled trains on the Birmingham-Coventry-Northampton, Lichfield-Birmingham-Redditch and Wolverhampton-Birmingham-Walsall/Rugeley routes. |
The firm said it would try to provide road transport or stop faster trains if there was a "significant wait". | The firm said it would try to provide road transport or stop faster trains if there was a "significant wait". |
The company has apologised to commuters for the cancellations. | The company has apologised to commuters for the cancellations. |
Another 30 services will start or end at different stations. | Another 30 services will start or end at different stations. |
London Midland services have been hit by cancellations for several weeks. | London Midland services have been hit by cancellations for several weeks. |
Disruption until mid-December | Disruption until mid-December |
On Saturday afternoon and evening up to 30 services on the same routes were subject to delays or cancellations. | On Saturday afternoon and evening up to 30 services on the same routes were subject to delays or cancellations. |
The company has said the shortfall in qualified train drivers will be addressed by mid-December. | The company has said the shortfall in qualified train drivers will be addressed by mid-December. |
Passengers have been advised that daily cancellation updates will be posted on the website at 17:00 BST the day before services are due to be affected. | Passengers have been advised that daily cancellation updates will be posted on the website at 17:00 BST the day before services are due to be affected. |
A message on the company's website said several services would be affected on Tuesday. | A message on the company's website said several services would be affected on Tuesday. |
These include trains between Coventry, London Euston, Northampton, Birmingham International and Birmingham New Street as well as between Redditch, Lichfield and Four Oaks. | These include trains between Coventry, London Euston, Northampton, Birmingham International and Birmingham New Street as well as between Redditch, Lichfield and Four Oaks. |
Most rail companies operate quite happily with a certain level of vacancies within the ranks of drivers. | |
But when too many drivers leave at once, as has happened at London Midland, you're in trouble. | |
Drivers departing from the company only have to give three months' notice, yet on average it takes about 12 months to train a new driver. | |
London Midland, like other companies, always has new drivers undergoing training, assuming a certain level of what's called "churn". | |
Astonishingly London Midland says normal services won't be back to normal until December, when more drivers complete training and a new more flexible shift pattern comes into effect. | |
Richard Brooks, commercial director for London Midland, said he wanted to "personally apologise" to everyone who has been affected. | Richard Brooks, commercial director for London Midland, said he wanted to "personally apologise" to everyone who has been affected. |
Mr Brooks said: "The challenge is that it takes over 12 months to recruit and train a driver yet we will lose drivers after three months if they choose to go elsewhere." | Mr Brooks said: "The challenge is that it takes over 12 months to recruit and train a driver yet we will lose drivers after three months if they choose to go elsewhere." |
He added timetables due to start on 9 December include "new ways of working" that will not lead to shortages of drivers. | He added timetables due to start on 9 December include "new ways of working" that will not lead to shortages of drivers. |
Phil Davies, from the passenger group Travelwatch West Midlands, said he believed the rail regulator should become involved to see if London Midland is "fit for purpose". | Phil Davies, from the passenger group Travelwatch West Midlands, said he believed the rail regulator should become involved to see if London Midland is "fit for purpose". |
"They've been promising new drivers but we do need to see some proof of action," he added. | "They've been promising new drivers but we do need to see some proof of action," he added. |
Passenger Georgia Sutton-Hitch, from Worcester, said: "I've been affected by quite a few trains that have been delayed. | Passenger Georgia Sutton-Hitch, from Worcester, said: "I've been affected by quite a few trains that have been delayed. |
"I've been put on replacement bus services before, which are really annoying, and it's been happening more and more." | "I've been put on replacement bus services before, which are really annoying, and it's been happening more and more." |
Adele Dalton, from Leamington Spa, said: "I've not had any problems myself but my husband, who has to travel into Birmingham every day for work, has. | Adele Dalton, from Leamington Spa, said: "I've not had any problems myself but my husband, who has to travel into Birmingham every day for work, has. |
"It's unfortunate, but it does make things difficult for people who rely on trains." | "It's unfortunate, but it does make things difficult for people who rely on trains." |