Rail commuters faced major disruptions yesterday as a rail company cancelled all but one service due to a lack of staff volunteering to work.

The company, London Midland, which operates more than 1,200 services a day to 149 stations, cancelled all services except to those on the Birmingham to Liverpool line.

The company has been under fire lately from passengers and politicians after it has been revealed that drivers usually work on a voluntary basis on Sundays, but this week saw insufficient numbers put their hands up for the shift.

One traveller, Hemi Carlson, had planned to take a London Midland service from Euston to Milton Keynes, but instead had to travel on a Virgin train, costing £13 return compared to £11 with London Midland.

He said that the service usually worked, but there are often delays, cancellations and power cuts on the line, and that £2 was a lot more money during these rough times.

The company, based in Birmingham, runs services throughout the centre of England, servicing cities including London, Birmingham and Liverpool, and connecting many towns across throughout the midlands.

Lord Adonis, Transport Secretary, has been asked by Conservative MP to investigate the disruptions.

This weekends disruptions were caused by the end of an agreement where drivers were paid double to work Sundays, however the Rail Maritime and Transport Unions aid that workers were not taking strike action.