MALVERN’S MP has pledged to lobby the government for intervention after receiving reports of young people being left stranded at stations on their way back from college.
Last minute train cancellations have left commuters unable to travel between Hereford and Worcester prompting Hereford Sixth Form College to contact Dame Harriet Baldwin MP asking for support.
The college called on Dame Harriett to support them in submitting a serious complaint with West Midlands Railway.
The West Worcestershire MP has now written to the managing director of the rail operator and shared her immediate concerns with the Department for Transport.
West Midlands Trains’ Birmingham to Hereford service has been severely impacted by last minute cancellations for many months with trains frequently terminating in Worcester, leaving passengers stranded or facing lengthy delays.
Dame Harriett said: “West Midlands Trains have disappointed passengers throughout the time they have held the franchise.
“Each time I write to the managing director, I’m told extra drivers are being trained to make the service more reliable but this never seems to happen.
“I get letters each week from angry commuters who are frustrated with the service and now I am told parents are considering withdrawing their children from Hereford Sixth Form College because of the train cancellations.
“I will continue to press management and the Government to deliver a better service for us all.”
West Midlands Railway have confirmed they are in contact with and have offered to meet Dame Harriett Baldwin MP regarding the train service on the Hereford Line.
A West Midlands Railway spokesperson told the Observer: “We are sorry to passengers on the Hereford Line whose journeys have been impacted by disruption recently. This has been as a result of traincrew shortages and a recurring signalling fault between Hereford and Ledbury.
“We are fully committed to improving our service on this route and we are taking action to increase the number of drivers we have and better support passengers who are impacted by service cancellations to complete their journey.
“We encourage any passenger who has been delayed by 15 minutes or more as a result of disruption to claim compensation against the cost of their ticket under the Delay Repay scheme.”
