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Network Rail say Redditch train services now running normally

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NETWORK Rail say an 'infrastructure fault' is to blame for a signalling problem which caused disruption and delays on tthe Cross City line last night and this morning.

The company said the problem first occurred in the University station area at 8pm on Monday and resulted in delays of on average of up to 15minutes.

Issues continued this morning with London Midland trains having to run at reduced speeds through University station resulting in delays and cancellations at short notice.

The 9.27am and 10.57am services on Tuesday started at Barnt Green missing out Redditch and Alvechurch and similar problems were experienced on Monday evening when the 7.57pm service was also started from Barnt Green, while passengers travelling on the 6.47pm service from Four Oaks to Redditch suffered delays of 14 minutes and then were left stranded at Barnt Green after the train terminated early.

Several trains to Longbridge were also cancelled.

A spokesman for Network Rail said services were now running normally.

"There was a signalling fault in the University area and engineers were on site last night working through the night on an infrastructure fault," he said.

"They will be there again tonight (Tuesday) working on a permanent repair to the equipment.

"As of now services are running normally through the area."

It was not the only issue to hit services yesterday. A train fault caused delays between Redditch and Lichfield Trent Valley and some trains were also cancelled or revised at short notice.

Several trains were delayed between ten and 15 minutes, some, like the 4.27pm service were cancelled completely while the 4.57pm started from Birmingham New Street after a passenger was taken ill.

Frustrated consumers took to social networking site Twitter to vent their frustration.

Many said the level of disruption was similar to pre-Christmas levels when almost a thousand trains were delayed or cancelled between October and December 9 because of a driver shortage.

One passenger likened using the Cross City Line to a game of 'roulette' while others complained about overcrowding.

A spokesman for London Midland said some of the problems were being caused by infrastructure issues and the responsibility of Network Rail and therefore out of their control.

The Standard reported last week how Redditch Borough Council had agreed to write to London Midland to complain about ongoing problems with the reliability of the service, following on from the issues experienced at the end of last year.

Redditch MP Karen Lumley told the Standard she remains unconvinced promises made to her about improvements to the service were being kept and will be speaking to the company again as well as the transport minister to see what further action can be taken.

Visit www.londonmidland.com for more information.

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