Mayor fires latest broadside at West Midlands Trains

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has fired another broadside at West Midlands Trains after saying he has had a “very forthright conversation” with the boss of the rail company.

The latest statement by Street follows months of pressure on the underfire train operating company, which he believes is letting down commuters in the region.

Andy Street

In a tweet last night Street said: “Today was a critical day for public transport in the region and, despite months of improvements, we have been comprehensively let down by West Midlands Tains. I’ve had a very forthright conversation with their managing director and will get this sorted – one way or another.”

Street added: “However, I also want to pay tribute to frontline staff across the rail, bus and tram networks who have worked exceptionally hard today in very difficult circumstances. It is imperative we keep public transport moving for the key workers who rely on it.”

West Midlands Trains installed a Julian Edwards as managing director in January. Edwards has been a director of the rail company since 2017 – and more recently the managing director of East Midlands Railway during the recent launch of the new franchise. He replaced Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde.

The move failed to impress Street, who reacted to the change in management by reiterating his promise to ask the Government to relieve West Midlands Trains of its franchise following poor performance.

Julian Edwards

In January he said: “Chaudhry-van der Velde, Julian Edwards, or both in charge, if a reliable
service is not restored by midnight on January 31 then my request to remove the franchise from West Midlands Trains will be sent to the DfT. 18 days to go.”

In December, Street called for his office to become responsible for West Midlands Trains (WMT) following the operator’s recent “woeful” performance.

He warned that he will call on the Department for Transport to remove Abellio from the franchise if “WMT do not restore a reliable service by midnight on January 31 2020”.

Street said: “The service currently being provided by West Midlands Trains is, quite simply, woeful.

“The problems on our region’s railways have been dragging on for months and, despite many promises from WMT, show no sign of improving.”