JUST two weeks after the railway between Redditch and Barnt Green was reopened following an eight week closure, and commuters were faced with cancelled journeys.

The section closed so Network Rail could build a new section of railway in the Alvechurch area and improve facilities and accessibility at Alvechurch station.

The new three kilometre section of railway – which created a passing loop for trains - will also allow London Midland to run three services between Barnt Green and Redditch in both directions from December, rather than the two per hour which currently operate.

But just a fortnight after the railway reopened and commuters attempting to travel in rush hour were faced with cancelled trains over several days.

One Redditch rail user, who did not want to be named, said: "What we were expecting was this fantastically improved service, and have three trains to Birmingham every hour, not just two.

"But what I got was a cancelled train, two mornings in a row, as I attempted to get to work. Certainly can't see how shutting doing the railway for two months to improve things has worked."

And another commuter said she had been informed that trains had been cancelled due to a staff shortage.

A spokesman for London Midland said: "There were staff shortages and therefore cancelled trains due to training.

"We could not train the drivers until the new section of railway had reopened.

"We apologise to any of our customers who did encounter a cancellation but would like to reassure them that this is only a short-term issue."

The works which have just been completed are part of a £100m investment package in the railway in north Worcestershire which also includes electrification, line speed improvements and a new station at Bromsgrove.