AN ONGOING dispute between conductors and the company that runs trains from Hereford and Ledbury to Birmingham means there will be no service on the line today (Saturday).

Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers are striking because they say West Midland Trains is planning to introduce driver-only services - something the company say isn't on the cards.

There will be no train services between Hereford and Birmingham New Street in either direction today (Saturday).

Great Western Railway is expected to run a normal service between Hereford, Great Malvern and Worcester.

From there, commuters can catch a rail replacement bus from Worcester Shrub Hill that will be operating approximately twice an hour to Kidderminster.

There will be trains between Kidderminster and Birmingham Snow Hill in both directions, but anyone who is wanting to travel should check the West Midlands Railway website beforehand.

There is also the option for commuters to travel via Shrewsbury.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT has been left with no choice but to call strike action on West Midlands Trains in the face of the company’s refusal to pull back from their threat to bulldoze through driver-only operation and their attack on the safety critical role of the guard at the platform/train interface."

A West Midlands spokesman said: "We are very disappointed that Saturday’s action by the RMT is going ahead.

"A strike benefits nobody and will inconvenience businesses and rail users."

The industrial action is set to continue on every Saturday until the New Year.