Train company London Midland will reinstate double time pay for Sunday workers in a bid to prevent its entire network closing down again this weekend.

The West Midlands train network was plunged into chaos at the weekend after drivers and conductors refused to volunteer for their shifts.

It meant more than 500 services through the Black Country and along the Chase Line in Staffordshire were replaced with buses. Only services between London and Liverpool were running.

London Midland has told union officials it will reintroduce terms for weekend working.

London Midland was criticised after revealing its drivers usually worked on a voluntary basis on Sundays and not enough staff volunteered to work last weekend.

Talks were held today between the company and union officials from the RMT and Aslef.

London Midland spokesman Richard Lakin said: “We will continue to offer enhanced overtime payments for working Sunday shifts. This is again for a time-limited period.”