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Changes to train Snow Hill services
Changes to train Snow Hill services

Press release -

Changes to train Snow Hill services due to staff availability

West Midlands Railway is making temporary changes to its timetables from Monday (2 August).

The train operator says the changes are necessary as Covid-19 has had a major impact on the ability to get new drivers trained to operate services. The timetable revisions will improve the reliability of the service provided. The changes affect services on the Snow Hill Lines between Kidderminster and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Before the pandemic, to improve underlying performance and to make services more reliable, the train operator recruited more than 100 extra drivers but their training has been delayed due to Covid restrictions. West Midlands Railway says the Test & Trace 'pingdemic' has put further pressures on services that were already struggling to deal with the impact of Covid-19.

West Midlands Railway customer experience director Jonny Wiseman said:

“Before the pandemic we had recruited extra drivers but Covid restrictions have impacted our training plans with over 25,000 lost training days.

"No-one wants to see trains being cancelled, particularly at short notice. We are sorry we have had to make the decision to alter some services. However, the changes will help us run a more reliable and consistent timetable for passengers across our network.”

With other operators also having to make changes to their timetables, West Midlands Railway is advising passengers to check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Since July the train company has seen the number of staff having to self-isolate quadruple. This has resulted in trains being cancelled at short notice and some services having fewer carriages as the 'pingdemic' affects train maintenance depots.

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About West Midlands Trains

For further information on this release, call our press office on 03300 955150 or email press.office@wmtrains.co.uk

West Midlands Trains operates both West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway services.

  • London Northwestern Railway services operate between Liverpool and Birmingham, and on the West Coast Main Line to and from London Euston.
  • West Midlands Railway services operate to destinations across the West Midlands via Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill.

For more information on these services visit westmidlandsrailway.co.uk or londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk

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Contacts

Press Office - Media Use Only

Press Office - Media Use Only

Press contact 03300 955150

West Midlands Trains Ltd. operator of train services calling at over 150 stations across England.

Operating train services between London and North West and in and around the West Midlands region.

West Midlands Trains

134 Edmund Street
B3 2ES Birmingham
United Kingdom