Nuneaton rail service lost due to timetable blunder

[dutchman]

Bungling rail bosses put on an extra night service from London to Nuneaton, despite the town's train station being closed when it is due to arrive.



Red-faced Virgin Train bosses have been forced to make a U-turn on what would have been a way for people to get a train back to Nuneaton from the capital late at night.

They had planned for the 11pm service from Euston to Manchester, which runs from Tuesday until Friday, to call in at Nuneaton's trail station.

It would have arrived at 12.39am.

But the London Midland-run station closes at 11.30pm, meaning there would be no staff on site.

While Virgin Trains quickly removed the service from its on-line timetable, it is still in the print version.

This means people can still technically access the service to Nuneaton.

Those that have, have had to get off at Rugby Station and Virgin Trains have been forced to pay for a taxi to bring them to Nuneaton.

A spokesperson for VirginTrains explained the situation to the News.

"It was always Virgin Trains' intention to stop this new late evening service from Euston to Manchester at Nuneaton on Tuesdays to Fridays," the spokesperson said.

"However, as soon as it was realised that the station would be locked at this time, with no way for customers to leave the station, we had no alternative but to withdraw the stop.

"We will of course continue to keep the situation under review in case London Midland should alter the staffing arrangements at Nuneaton."

Word about the timetable mistake reached the corridors of power in Parliament and Nuneaton's MP Marcus Jones is now on the case.

He says that the extra night-time service would be of benefit for residents, especially commuters and is looking at getting the gaff resolved,

"I thought this was absolutely ridiculous when I first heard about this," the leading local MP said.

"I have since made strong representations to Virgin Trains and I have also spoken to the Department for Transport about this.

"I am hoping that a solution will soon be reached."

The news comes off the back of the loss of another Virgin Trains service, as the Liverpool to London train on Saturday mornings will no longer call in at Nuneaton at 9.59am.

[dutchman]

Another timetable snub at Nuneaton train station


Transport Minister Patrick McLoughlin with MP Marcus Jones

TRAIN bosses have once again snubbed rail users in Nuneaton.

It has been revealed that Virgin Trains has decided not to include a late night service from London to Nuneaton in its latest timetable.

As featured in the News, Virgin Train bosses had put on an extra night service from the capital to Nuneaton, despite the town's train station being closed when it is due to arrive.

They quickly removed the service from its online timetable, but it was still in the print version.

Now it has been permanently removed, which is yet another blow for commuters and residents who have lost many services to and from London.

Nuneaton's MP Marcus Jones has expressed his disappointment at the decision after campaigning for better off-peak fast rail services for Nuneaton.

The bad news was delivered to the Town's MP during a meeting with Virgin Trains bosses and, as a result, Mr Jones said that he sought assurances that other services from and to Nuneaton station were safe.

"I am extremely disappointed with the Virgin decision not to include a late night service from London. Since 2008, when the previous Labour government allowed Virgin to strip away most of our fast off-peak services, it has been an uphill battle to get services reinstated, and I thought that we had a small chink of light in making some progress," the town's voice in Parliament said.

"I was then horrified to discover the mistake made by Virgin who had not ascertained that Nuneaton station was not open after midnight. After some lobbying I was told that a way could be found to open the station to receive the late train, I was therefore very disappointed to now be told by Virgin that they have withdrawn this service.

"I firmly believe that while we have extremely good peak services from Virgin and off-peak services run by London Midland, there are nearly a million passengers a year using Nuneaton's station and there is no doubt that extra demand for more fast services exists, which are vital if we are to attract new businesses and jobs for our area."

Rather than be deterred, the local MP has pledged that he will continue to be a 'thorn in the side' of both Virgin and the Secretary of State for Transport.

"That is until Nuneaton gets a better train service that local people deserve and need," he vowed.