SUNDAY WORKING CLOSER UNDER NEW RAIL FRANCHISE

21-06-2007

The Stirrer's campaign to get compulsory Sunday working on West Midlands' railways moved a step closer to success today with the announcement of a new franchise holder.

From November, Central Trains who operate a number of routes across Birmingham and the Black Country will be replaced by London Midland - an offshoot of the Go Via company which already has an operation in the south of the country.

They are pledging to invest £11.5 million in improvements to stations and the rolling stock.

One of their most striking innovations will be the introduction of the lightweight, flywheel driven Parry People Mover linking Stourbridge Town to Stourbridge Junction.

This tram style train is designed and built in Cradley Heath, and its incorporation on the route is a major step forward for the PPM company.

That still leaves unresolved the key issue of Sunday working, which isn't compulsory, and leaves passengers vulnerable to wildcat action.

As we revealed in May, trains between Birmingham and Walsall and on the Cross City Line were cancelled - for the second time in six months - because workers had fallen out with their bosses and chose not to volunteer for overtime (see our story here)

Go Via's Samantha Hodder admitted that a deal hadn't yet been struck on Sunday working, but she said: "We are committed to solving the issue and that is one the issues that has been brought to our attention.

"It is our intention that their should be fixed Sunday working, and we have had constructive discussions with the unions."