'Uncertainty causes problems with train travel' - Wolverhampton rail users have their say on strikes and delays

'Mr Miami' regularly goes to London to see his son and will be using the trains during the busy Christmas period, including possibly New Year's Eve.

He said: "I haven't heard about the strikes but it is another problem for train users who are already putting up with sometimes unreliable services.

"In my case I use it at weekends including Sunday and more than going to London, coming back to Wolverhampton is particularly unreliable last thing at the weekend.

"The service when it works is fast and efficient and I have had refunds when it doesn't but that can take a few weeks and quite a bit of work to obtain."

His friend Amelia Thompson said she regularly commutes to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and didn't think the service represented value for money.

She said: "I also take my son to school and pick him up and he has been late a number of times due to the trains. And we are paying for it - I know there is compensation available but it is hard to obtain.

"Don't get me wrong, when it works, the railway is a good way of commuting and is stress-free but you do sometimes have to plan ahead."

'Gerry' said the strike over pay was 'disgusting' as they had been given a settlement by the government and were now arguing over another issue.

He said: "I wouldn't mind earning what they earn and the majority of workers would say the same. I use the Midland Metro as well and the train to get close to the NEC - I do generally find them reliable but any further disruption other than engineering and the weather is not to be welcomed by anyone I wouldn't think."

Clare Roberts-Molloy said she was a regular user of the trains but it was best to 'expect delays and cancellations'.

She said: "You have to plan ahead accordingly which is not ideal because it is extra work for yourself - when the services run they are fine but you are paying money for them to run all of the time and that is not the case. I may use the trains over Christmas, certainly in the new year, and a strike will only add to the potential headaches."