MALVERN’s MP Harriett Baldwin has urged West Midlands Railway chiefs to add more carriages from Worcester and Malvern to Birmingham to ease congestion for commuters, writes Liam Masters.
The MP contacted the rail operator following a series of complaints from constituents about service.
The company promised over £1billion in investment in extra trains services, extra seats and better rolling stock as part of its franchise winning pledges.
Mrs Baldwin said: “West Midland Railways won the new franchise on the back of a billion pound cash injection, extra service promises and added capacity on the busier train services.
“However, anyone who regularly uses these services will know that often these trains are standing room only and the feedback that I have had from rail users is anything but positive.
“The franchisee is carrying out a series of reviews into capacity and I strongly urge them to add capacity as quickly as possible.
“Commuters and shoppers making the journey to Birmingham often have no choice but to use the train and I hope that West Midland Railway will be delivering on its franchise promises for enhanced capacity and service levels soon.”
The company are reviewing the service and hope to improve quickly.
Richard Brooks, West Midlands Railway’s customer experience director, said the operator continued to take on board all passenger feedback around capacity, particularly in light of our new timetable introduced last month.
“We are aware of some of the concerns raised by passengers and we are seriously considering what options we have to strengthen some of the busiest services in Worcestershire while we await the arrival of our new trains.
“The recent timetable change was the most significant for over ten years and as this beds in we are looking at what further improvements can be made.”
He added the introduction of new trains, scheduled for 2021, would increase capacity across the network by a quarter and was part of the 1bn investment into the franchise’s rail services.
