Centro, the body that promotes public transport use in the West Midlands, has raised major concerns over the revised timetable to take effect next month between New Street, Birmingham International and Coventry. 

"Under the proposed new timetable, the turn-up-and-go service to Birmingham International will effectively disappear and this could lead to serious overcrowding on platforms and trains," comments Cllr Gary Clarke, new chairman of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority (PTA).

Now the PTA - the policy-setting body for Centro - has called railway chiefs to an urgent summit.  Cllr Clarke says he hopes Friday’s meeting will enable the rail industry to work together on a solution.

"As things stand, the service will struggle to cope with demand, especially when there are large events on at the NEC.  People used to a high-frequency service to the Airport will have to start checking timetables to make sure they can catch their flight.  This can only be described as a backward step," he says.

Centro had been assured that heralded new services as a result of the West Coast Main Line improvement works could start to be implemented – but late changes to the timetable has left gaps in the Monday to Saturday service.

"The rail industry must do all it can to resolve this very serious problem before the timetable is finally introduced at the end of next month.  That is why I have called for a meeting of all the agencies involved to see what can be done," says Cllr Clarke.

Representatives from Network Rail, the Strategic Rail Authority, Virgin Trains West Coast and Central Trains have been called to Friday’s meeting at Centro House.