A LACK of carriages and constant delays are leaving disgruntled train passengers sick of a sub-standard service.

Peak hour commuters travelling from Worcester to Birmingham have found standing room only on Central Trains since the introduction of its winter timetable, two weeks ago.

Passengers boarding the 7.56am from Shrub Hill are regularly left scrambling for a seat in just two carriages, on a service yet to run on time.

Previously, commuters had the "luxury" of at least three carriages, with two trains from the station, guaranteed to reach Birmingham by 9am.

Now, only the 7.56am service trundles into the Second City by this time, forcing extra commuters to dive onto this earlier service.

Twice this week I've stood for nearly an hour. It's hot and we're left cramped like cattle in just two carriages," said one Worcester commuter, who asked not to be named.

I feel sorry for people boarding at Droitwich, because even when we have three carriages they still have to stand.

It hasn't run on time once. It's just not on.

The misery continues for Worcester and Droitwich commuters on their return journey.

Having lost their 4.30pm train, the later service has only ever offered two carriages guaranteeing standing room only.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said he had received dozens of complaints and the situation with carriages was particularly bad".

It is a big problem," he said. The trains are currently too short to handle commuting capacity. There should be a minimum of four carriages.

Worcester MP Mike Foster said the level of service was not on. Both MPs will be speaking with Central Trains managing director Nick Brown to discuss the problem.

A spokesman for Central Trains said the 7.56am service from Shrub Hill should have three carriages, as should the 16.59pm and 17.19pm returning from Birmingham.

We have had a short-term rolling stock problem. We are addressing this and I can only apologise for the situation, he said.

He confirmed that, due to regulations, only trains with a maximum of three carriages could stop at Bromsgrove, but that new three-carriage trains, designed with around 20 more seats, were being put on.