Bournville’s rail users have spoken out about the reduced train service implemented by London Midland as a result of the annual ‘Leaf Fall’ timetable changes.
Through our Facebook page and Twitter account they branded the service as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘ridiculous’.
‘Get rid of it’
On Twitter, @BeccyB31 said: “There is no need for it, they should get rid of it.”
@markfrombrum said there was: “unsafe overcrowding and irate passengers complaining to the poor drivers.”
On Facebook, Rosalind declared “I HATE LEAF FALL TIME! Trains overcrowded to an impossible degree, almost invariably at least a few minutes late”
The reasons for the Leaf Fall timetable
As with previous years the timetable is adjusted during autumn to take account of the slippery rail conditions which may result in trains taking longer.
In order to ensure trains run on time some services miss out Bournville, Kings Norton and Northfield stations.
Southbound, some trains run non-stop between Selly Oak and Longbridge, while northbound, some trains start from Selly Oak, resulting in gaps in the usual 10 minute service.
The timetable runs until Saturday 9th December 2017 when services will return to normal.
We have published a selection of your comments and tweets below:
This, this, a thousand times this. The way ‘all station’ passengers are treated is disgraceful. 2 stops into an 8 station route and the train is full. We pay too much to stand like cattle! Hopefully the new franchise will be better than LM and realise this.
— Bill (@gooner4t9) November 9, 2017
#leaffall timetable is awful, there are no more leaves falling and yet suddenly the service is worse. Why can’t trains stop at Kings Norton? Lots of commuters get off there. It will be worse when German market starts & more people waiting for Redditch trains
— Allyson Dudley (@LadyAllysonD) November 10, 2017
We can find a 100 billion for trident yet leaves stop trains… is it me?