Anger after rail station parking ban

Train passengers were left fuming today after parking spaces outside a Shropshire railway station were replaced with double yellow lines.Passengers arriving at Albrighton train station for their daily commute were shocked to find the new lines had appeared along one side of the station approach road.

Many were forced to park further afield - clogging up village streets. The work was carried out by engineers for train operator London Midland, which leases the station and approach road from Network Rail.

The lines were painted after calls from a nearby business, emergency services, Albrighton Parish Council and London Midland. They all said the access road was frequently being blocked when cars were parked on both sides.

But now cars can only park along half of one side and double yellow lines mean drivers face finding somewhere else to park when catching trains to Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford.

Disgruntled train user Lynda Holloway said her journey to work became a misery this morning because she had no prior warning about the yellow lines.

She said: "The road has been painted with yellow lines and consequently people have been arriving and finding there are not enough parking spaces."

Michael Ward, parish council clerk, said: "Councillors had complained to London Midland about the access road, raising concerns about access for emergency services in case a major incident occurred on the line."

Martin Cowell, who has a company at the top of the station approach road, said: "I've had complaints from customers about people parking their cars and blocking the road."