Commuters in the West Midlands faced significant disruption early this morning after a key railway station was forced to close because no staff were available to open it.
Station Forced to Lock Its Doors
In a statement issued in the early hours of Monday, 1st December 2025, West Midlands Railway (WMR) announced that Solihull Station was locked and inaccessible. The operator confirmed that all services were unable to call at the station until further notice.
The initial announcement, posted shortly after midnight, cited a lack of available station staff as the direct cause for the closure. "Due to a lack of available station staff, the station is locked and no services are able to call until further notice," the update read.
Services Resume After Delay
The situation was resolved later in the morning, allowing the station to reopen. An updated statement from West Midlands Railway confirmed that Solihull station would be open from 06:15.
The first services to resume stopping at the station were the 06:39 service to Dorridge and the 06:41 service to Worcester Foregate Street via Birmingham.
Impact on Local Commuters
The unexpected closure inevitably caused inconvenience for early morning travellers relying on the station for their journeys into Birmingham and beyond. The incident highlights the operational challenges that can arise from acute staff shortages in critical transport infrastructure.
While the disruption was relatively short-lived, it serves as a reminder of the essential role station personnel play in maintaining normal service. West Midlands Railway has not provided further details on the specific cause of the staff shortage that led to the temporary lockdown of Solihull station.
