Commuters' concern at rail cuts

Virgin Trains says its services will be improved to major cities

Rail commuters in a Warwickshire town say service cuts will mean a 70% reduction in fast inter-city trains.

Virgin Trains' stops at Nuneaton station will be cut from around 35 a day to 10 and there will be no fast service to London outside peak times.

The changes are part of a new West Coast Main Line timetable, due to be introduced next year.

Virgin says the changes will help speed up and increase the frequency of its trains to major cities in the network.

The station will also still be served by an hourly stopping service to London by another company.

However, Nuneaton and Bedworth Rail Users' Group said the changes would be difficult for commuters who will see the journey times to London increase.

Mark Whiteleg, from the group, said: "I think it's stretching credibility an awful lot to say that it's an alternative.

"It's an hour and 46 minutes on a local commuter train."