Anger at London Midland as services reduced due to leaf fears
Fed-up commuters have hit out a train company which is running a reduced timetable because it's autumn.
London Midland has announced a temporary seven-week timetable on the busy route between Redditch, Worcester and Sutton Coldfield to Birmingham New Street because there might be leaves on the track.
The firm has stopped some trains from calling at stations, including Bournville and stops for Birmingham University in what it claims is a bid to reduce delays.
Bradley Clemson, a 19-year-old business management student, said: "It's pathetic and inconvenient. They should be providing a service but they're not. It's already packed and a pain."
Kim Ratcliffe, 28, a property manager, said: "My husband is more affected than I am. My train only runs once an hour, so they cannot reduce them any further. He and his colleagues get very frustrated."
London Midland posted a statement on its website claiming that services on the route between Redditch and Lichfield Trent Valley will be reduced from October 24 to December 10 .
It goes on to say: "These routes are prone to delays caused by slippery rail conditions, primarily due to the combination of trackside vegetation and frequency of stops.
"The autumn timetables are designed to help spread the recovery time – in the event of any delays – across each return circuit.
"Trains that do not call at stations on outward journeys will stop at all stations on the return leg."
