Trains between Shrewsbury and Birmingham cancelled

Trains between Shrewsbury and Birmingham are disrupted on Monday

Rail services between Shrewsbury and Birmingham International have been cancelled or revised for most of Monday, National Rail says.

Signalling staff shortages caused by illness have been blamed, with passengers warned to expect disruption until 18:30 BST.

Transport for Wales will not be operating between the stations.

West Midlands Railway has a reduced Birmingham New Street service starting and ending at Wellington.

A spokesperson for National Rail said: "Owing to emergency staff sickness, we have had to close Abbey Foregate signal box. This means that there are no trains running between Shrewsbury and Wellington stations."

They added the signal box could only be operated by certain trained individuals and National Rail were currently trying to recruit and train more people for the task.

Rail replacement buses are running between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton

Angry passengers took to Twitter to express how the disruption had affected them, with one trying to claim a refund after being stranded in Birmingham and another expressing how it had affected plans for her husband's birthday.

National Rail has apologised for disruption, saying: "We are working to try and reopen the signal box, and the route to and from Shrewsbury, later this evening.

"In the meantime we advise all passengers to check before they travel."

National Rail said mutual ticket acceptance was in place with operators, allowing both West Midlands Railway and Transport for Wales passengers to use services between Wellington and Birmingham New Street.

Rail replacement buses have been running between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton.

Avanti West Coast services between Shrewsbury and London Euston are also affected.