MALVERN'S MP has called on the region's train operator to increase capacity on the train line.

Harriett Baldwin has written to West Midlands Trains calling on them to fulfill a pledge to add extra capacity to county commuter trains to and from Birmingham.

Mrs Baldwin met with representatives of the company last month and bosses pledged to find extra carriages to replace those removed from the Hereford to Birmingham service in the summer.

She has also written to the West Midlands Trains managing director Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde asking for immediate action to rectify the problem.

She said: “West Midlands Trains was appointed with a fanfare or promises of better services, more capacity and major investment.

“The decision to remove carriages during the summer was deeply disappointing and I was promised action when I met with the company to raise constituents’ concerns.

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“Everyone who has to tolerate busy trains services in and out of the city will share my frustration and I am calling on the company to step up its efforts to fix this problem.

“Shortly, the trains will be even busier with Christmas shoppers and people visiting Christmas markets so there is a real need to see West Midlands Trains act right now.”

Extra capacity for commuter services to Birmingham has long been an issue, with one commuter, Jo Martyr, calling on the train operator to provide more carriages.

Mrs Martyr posted a photo on Twitter showing commuters crammed onto a service at Worcester Foregate Street.

She said: “I don’t know whether they (West Midlands Railway) even care.

“I really do think someone needs to come and do an appraisal because it gets to the point where often you cannot even get onto the train, and even when you can, you have to stand the whole way and it can get unbearably hot.”

In response, Richard Brooks, customer experience director for West Midlands Railway, said: “We are sorry some passengers in Worcester have experienced recent journeys which have not been as good as they should have been.

“We are listening and we are taking action to improve the situation by adding capacity as soon as possible.

"In the meantime we have been seeking suitable reinforcements and will soon receive trains from TransPennine Express to strengthen the service.”