Michael Fabricant MP
Michael Fabricant MP

EXCLUSIVE: Train operator London Midland have assured Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant that services operating through Lichfield Trent Valley will improve.

The vow came after a summit between Mr Fabricant, London Midland’s managing director Steve Banaghan and the company’s head of communications, Rachel Webster.

Mr Fabricant told The Lichfield Blog:

“I asked when will we see any light at the end of the tunnel.  The MD said that there would be a timetable change on May 18th and they hoped that we would see a major improvement in reliability from then on.  There would be a further improvement from 2010.

“In particular, in answering a question from me, he hoped that there would not need to be a crew change at Rugby which is causing a problem at present on the LTV to Euston Sunday service.  Often, trains have to terminate at Rugby ‘due to staff shortages’.  This won’t happen if there is the same crew at Crewe all the way down to Euston.”

The meeting, which was held in the House of Commons, came about after the Lichfield MP had criticised the reliability of services operating between Crewe and London Euston, which call at Lichfield Trent Valley. 

Mr Fabricant added:

“Steve (Banaghan) admitted there are problems though he claimed that the standard of service since January is steadily improving.  There is an industrial dispute with RMT over the Sunday service, but he argued there is no shortage of staff.  It is the industrial action causing the problems on Sunday.  He also said that the Department of Transport altered the timetable midweek shortly before implementation in December and that has caused problems.

Mr Fabricant was also promised further information from London Midland relating to his complaints.

This meeting is the latest development in Mr Fabricant’s battle to improve rail services and facilities at Lichfield Trent Valley.

Last week we told you how he had raised complaints over the state of disabled facilities at the station, an issue which The Lichfield Blog community has complained to the company about without reply.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

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LichfieldBlog (Lichfield Blog)
15 years ago

London Midland give assurance to @Mike_Fabricant over Lichfield Trent Valley rail services: http://tinyurl.com/d4wrgq

Phil
15 years ago

Very disappointed that there is still no response on accessibility. Too many companies don’t take notice. All it takes is one disabled user receiving bad service and they could have a lawsuit on their hands.

Though, that’s costly so it might never happen. It really should be easier to hold companies to account for accessibility.

Nick
15 years ago

Although an able-bodied person myself, I’m also appalled at the state of LTV’s disabled facilities (or lack thereof). I’d much rather see this issue resolved before the Sunday service. Why are they dodging the problem?!

GrovesMedia
15 years ago

As much as I’m glad to see MrF taking the timetable fight straight to the top man, there is arguably the more pressing issue of having a train station which efectively blocks some passengers from travelling anywhere at any time.

I know the poor access at LTV is a fight our MP has also taken up and I wish him well as I can’t help thinking it will be a much more difficult and prolonged battle.