Lichfield’s MP has pledged to keep up the pressure to improve the reliability of the London Midland train service from the city to London.

Michael Fabricant had raised his concerns with Transport Minister Paul Clark, who has now told him that both Network Rail and the train operators on the route are being urged to seek improvements in punctuality and reliability.

Mr Clark added that in the year to the end of February London Midland achieved an average punctuality of 86.5 per cent.

But the figure fell to 81.6 per cent in the four weeks to the end of the month.

Mr Clark said in a Parliamentary reply to Mr Febricant: “Performance on the Crewe to Euston route [including Lichfield] has been below this level.

“Improving rail performance is a key objective for the Department for Transport.

“Joint action plans are in place between Network Rail and London Midland to address performance issues.

“London Midland has also developed an improvement plan, progress against which is monitored regularly.”.

Mr Clark also added that the Office of Rail Regulation was giving particular attention to monitoring Network Rail’s performance on the route.

Mr Fabricant said: “Many of my constituents, particularly in Armitage, Handsacre, and Fisherwick, experienced over two years of upheaval while two extra rail lines were added to the West Coast Main Line.

“It was then hoped that the much-promoted London Midland Service would provide an efficient, cheap, and regular service to London and back on the Crewe-Euston route.

“This has not been the case.  The service has been unreliable – particularly on Sundays.

“When I met the London-Midland’s managing director, Stephen Banaghan, he sought to reassure me that we would see huge improvements by the time the new May timetable comes into operation.

“I hope he is correct.  Meanwhile, I will keep up the pressure.”

From next month London Midland will be starting to make some of the changes that passengers have requested.

There are plans for new trains, more services and more seats on trains.