HIGH-SPEED train services from Sandwell and Dudley railway station could be reduced under a new franchise deal, an MP has warned.

A Department for Transport consultation to determine which company will run the Intercity West Coast Rail franchise from April 2018 closes on Tuesday.

Sandwell MP Tom Watson is worried the Oldbury station will be downgraded and have fewer high-speed trains stopping every day.

He said: “The responses to this consultation will help determine what the Government ask for in the tender documents for the future of the franchise (currently run by Virgin Trains).

“The consultation has a heavy focus on faster journey times, which could mean fewer stops at stations like Sandwell in order to reduce journey times to other destinations."

He added: “This would be a real problem for Sandwell businesses and commuters.”

The ICWC rail franchise operates on the West Coast Mainline between London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales, Glasgow and Edinburgh, with stops at smaller stations including Sandwell and Dudley, Birmingham International and Coventry.

Mr Watson added: “One of the consultation questions asks about a minimum level of service prompting the suggestion one train every two hours might be acceptable in some areas.

“Any reduction in high-speed services to and from Sandwell would be outrageous.”

The MP believes the billions of pounds being spent on HS2 should benefit residents of Sandwell.

He said: “We need more high speed direct trains, not fewer services.

"There’s no point in the Government spending all of this money on HS2 if Sandwell residents end up getting a poorer service.”

The Department of Transport's consultation says that there are around 300 train services every day on the ICWC with journeys to and from London accounting for 63 per of services.

Journeys are typically long-distance with approximately 60 per cent being over 100 miles.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Following the conclusion of the consultation process, DfT will analyse all the responses and use them to inform what we put into the specification – the document which sets out what we want the operator of the new ICWC franchise to provide.

"We will publish a report on the GOV.UK website which will summarise public and stakeholder views and is expected to be published in November 2016."