Cancer patient's anger at overcrowded Hereford trains

Fewer carriages on the route to Birmingham since a timetable overhaul in May which was meant to improve services.

Roger Utley, 74, from Leominster uses West Midlands Railway to travel to and from to be treated for melanoma, a form of skin cancer, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

He said: "I've got melanoma and it's a nightmare. I had a skin graft recently but when I got back to Hereford I had to go to Morrisons for a new dressing because it had come off in the heat.

"I was a coach driver, I drove 53 children and then all had to wear seatbelts. How can a train service not need seatbelts? It's a pity people can't get together and make the companies do something.

"It has been a nightmare. On the way back from University, there's no seats until Worcester Foregate Street. Every train should have three carriages, not two, but on quieter trains there's four or five."

Other annoyed commuters have taken to Twitter to express their frustrations, with the extra carriages being used on other services travelling between Worcester/Shrewsbury and Birmingham.

@WestMidRailway the two carriages currently at Foregate street heading to Hereford. Already overflowing and more expecting to get on. Absolute joke of a service. Aisle space is not legitimate spacing for travellers.

— Jack Ferguson (@jack_fergie) June 14, 2019

Worst train service ever winner is surely @WestMidRailway. There was some talk of new coaches last time I travelled on them but we’re still all crammed into two old carriages...

— Thalia Proctor (@ThaliaIndigo) June 14, 2019

New trains are expected in 2021, and West Midlands Railway said they pay attention to customer feedback.  

Once again not even standing room left on @WestMidRailway service BEFORE it’s even left Bham New St (start of journey) to head towards Great Malvern. Every day. Dreadful service. Can’t believe this is safe #MoreCarriagesNeeded pic.twitter.com/vveNAsE55s

— Simon Richards (@SiRichards1827) June 11, 2019

Both the 15.50 to Hereford and the 16.20 to Malvern had 3 carriages prior to the new timetable in May. Your hands are not tied, you made a deliberate choice to move the carriages elsewhere.

— Paul Mapp (@mappuccinos) June 11, 2019

 Commuters have been left angry as already busy trains, particularly the 15:50 service from Birmingham New Street, has been shortened to just two carriages.

@WestMidRailway what’s happening with the shiny new service btw Hereford & New St? Fewer carriages & older stock. Only 2 cronky cars tonight

— Julie Taylor (@bulawayojulie) June 14, 2019

@WestMidRailway why have you decided to use less carriages for the Hereford to Birmingham train?! The demand hasn’t changed. Not fair to make people stand for their entire commute.

— Natalie Drenth🔮 (@Natalie_Drenth) June 17, 2019

@WestMidRailway Another rammed airless and potentially dangerous 15:56 service new street to Hereford. Just what is it going to take for you to take some notice of all our comments? Not even getting any reponse now. Are you hoping we will just put up with it? Dream on.

— PurplePenguin (@AngryCo85132025) June 12, 2019

A spokesman for West Midlands Trains said new rolling stock will be introduced from 2021, and the company is taking passenger feedback into account.

The spokesman said: “With the introduction of our new timetables we have had to reallocate carriages across our network. This has resulted in changes to the formation of some services.

“Overall, we have increased the number of carriages across our network, which includes the introduction of a refurbished two-carriage train from London Overground to the Worcester lines.

“However, as part of implementing the biggest timetable change in 10 years, some services are now operating with fewer carriages to allow for extra services or where trains are operating with more carriages.”