West Worcestershire Parliamentary Candidate Harriett Baldwin has blasted the Midlands train franchise holder for continued poor performance despite pledges to add extra services and capacity.

And Harriett pledged to carry out a full inquiry over the recent poor performance if she is returned to Westminster later this month.

West Midlands Trains met with Harriett and Worcester Westminster hopeful Robin Walker in September and the company promised improved service performance ahead of the major timetable changes on December 15.

The operator reduced capacity in the summer but pledged to return the service to full capacity last month with the allocation of extra carriages.

However, trains continued to be cancelled on the Hereford to Birmingham commuter route and local people are getting increasingly angry with the poor service and crowded trains.

Harriett said: “The company promised me that by bringing extra carriages into use, the capacity issues would be fixed but I am hearing reports that the extra carriages are not regularly used and services continued to be cramped or even cancelled.

“I spoke to the company today and I am told that the current terrible service is as a result of a shortage of drivers. This is simply not good enough and the litany of excuses cannot mask the fact that the company is under-performing and breaking its promises to me and to its customers.

“As the network prepares for the biggest timetable overhaul in nearly fifty years, I simply don’t have the confidence that the franchise is being well managed and delivering value for money. We need action, and we need it now.”