Statement on current Birmingham commuter line congestion:

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, commented: “West Midlands Trains management have assured me that the two extra carriages came into operation last week but that services in the last few days have been affected both by serious staff shortages and the impact of bad weather across the county.

“I sympathise with commuters who are frustrated by the overcrowding, and as someone who regularly uses that route to Birmingham, I share their views.

“I will be writing to the managing director of West Midlands Trains to ask him to re-double his efforts to ensure that our commuters get better journeys to and from the second city.”