DEAR EDITOR -- As the writers of letters over the previous two weeks, have pointed out, the reporting of the 'improved New Year train service was a little wide of the mark.

When I heard of the proposed timetable change, I was originally astounded and thought someone was having a joke. After all there were no leaflets given out, no signs up at the station and the ticket seller said nothing.

Following impressive campaigning by Peter Luff, Droitwich and Worcester commuters are purportedly going to get an extra carriage on the service leaving Worcester at 7.56 but this will necessitate not stopping at Bromsgrove because of the length of the platform.

Points I would like to make are as follows:

1 - It is possible to stop trains at shorter platforms and simply not open all the doors. Is this beyond Central's capabilities? They manage it elsewhere.

2 - If the 7.56 from Worcester runs as the three-coach train it was previously scheduled to be, rather than the two (or occasionally one) coach train that has regularly been run, the overcrowding would have been less.

3 - The majority of before-school clubs start at 8 am. Therefore parents are not able to catch trains before 8am. This leaves me with one train to catch at 8.23. This is scheduled to arrive at Birmingham at 8.46. If it does fine, but the reason I have never aimed to catch this train is that the 8.13 was scheduled to arrive at 8.36 and I was late for work many times. My employer is tolerant, but my employment starts at 9am (like many commuters), so if the late train is late or doesn't turn up (not unheard of), I will have to look for alternative employment - because of the inept public transport.

4 - If the 7.56 leaves Worcester with three coaches, as it has three times this week, why doesn't it stop at Bromsgrove?

Christine Richmond

Sidemoor

Bromsgrove