RAIL users hoping to get between Bromsgrove and Birmingham on Saturday are being warned to be aware of strike action being taken the RMT union which will mean fewer trains between the town and the Second City.
Throughout the day on the Cross City Line there will be just one train per hour each way between Bromsgrove and Birmingham New Street.
The services which do operate are also set to be busy with people heading out to the Frankfurt Christmas Market and their festive shopping.
The first train from Birmingham to Bromsgrove will be at 5.53am and the last one will be at 10.17pm.
The first train from Bromsgrove to Birmingham New Street will be at 6.33am and the last one will be at 10.50pm.
There will be no rail services on the Hereford and Birmingham line, which serves Bromsgrove and Droitwich.
Passengers are being advised rail tickets are being accepted on National Express West Midlands buses – including X20, X21, X22, 61, 63, 45 and 47, along with the 144 First Worcestershire services.
The industrial action by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers is over ‘driver only’ trains with the RMT expressing fears on-board conductors, who ensure passenger safety by operating the doors at each station, will be axed from services.
But a West Midlands Railway spokesperson hit back saying it had never proposed driver-only trains, there was no need for the industrial action and it was very disappointed it was going ahead.
He added the company was committed to keeping a safety-critical conductor on every passenger train and had proposed a solution which met the RMT’s latest demands for the new trains when they were delivered.
And he added the operator was committed to resolving the dispute to avoid further disruption and inconvenience for passengers.
