"THE TRAIN now approaching platform ... " will not stop. That's official.

If you are waiting to board at Lydney, Chepstow or Caldicot at any time after 7.50 in the morning you could face a delay of up to seven hours.

"It's a disgrace. Thousands of pounds have been spent improving Lydney but from 7.50 in the morning until late in the afternoon not a single train stops. There is a seven hour period without a train in either direction. It's shocking," a rail user told the Review.

Wales and Borders Trains say they have had to revise their services – only announced on September 29 – following a withdrawal of rest day working by ASLEF train drivers.

The company has issued a leaflet covering a period from October 28 to January 4 next year "implementing a special timetable ... with some trains being replaced by buses".

A notice went up at Lydney over the week-end advising passengers of the changes but many arrived unaware that trains would not be stopping. They could only stand and stare as passenger trains raced by.

"What is most frustrating is that at least five trains run by Central go through without stopping. They could easily cover and it would put no more than two minutes on a journey time. It seems crazy to leave people waiting on a platform," we were told.

"The worst thing is that Wales and Borders Trains and Central Trains are both owned by the same company, National Express. You would think they could get their act together and arrange for one to cover for the other. It's not rocket science," the traveller told the Review.

• Wales & Borders Trains were asked to comment on Monday but failed to do so.