Error leaves family stranded at rail station

A furious family were left stranded at a railway station when a scheduled train failed to stop for waiting passengers.

Mum Linda Rushworth (32), and her children Emily and Isaac, were outraged when the Midland Mainline train to Sheffield sped past them as they stood waiting at Dronfield Station with ten other travellers.

Mrs Rushworth added: "There was a platform announcement for the delayed train which was already 15 minutes late. It just shot past us and suddenly came to a halt further down the line but couldn't reverse.

"This is an essential service but the situation in Dronfield is becoming diabolical with fewer trains and now they even seem to be forgetting to stop."

The delay meant Emily (10) and Isaac (2) missed their film they were going to watch at Meadowhall cinema.

Mrs Rushworth said she met a frustrating voicemail system when she called Midland Mainline to complain about the error on the delayed 1.03pm service last Wednesday and now plans to make her feelings felt in writing.

She added: "Dronfield is a big place, but every time the train timetable is up-dated the situation gets worse with fewer trains stopping in Dronfield and this kind of thing with a train forgetting to stop is forcing more people to use cars instead of public transport."

A Midland Mainline spokesman said: "It was driver error. We only have two stops at Dronfield station, which is run by Arriva, and the services are so infrequent that the driver misread his job card.

"We apologise and anyone inconvenienced is welcome to write to our customer relations department with any concerns."