North East Bedfordshire MP Alistair Burt has hit out at the “unacceptable disruption” to railway services following the introduction of the new timetable.

Mr Burt has confirmed that he and other MPs had contacted the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling about the cancellations, delays and staff shortages on Govia Thameslink services that have caused uproar.

He said: “I have had contact with the Secretary of State over the weekend to confirm that he and his department are heavily pressing those involved to get this sorted speedily.

“The new timetables have been envisaged for months, and local MPs see no reason for the current excuses covering so many trains.

“The odd hiccup in a new timetable is understandable but wholescale cancellations and being unable to say whether trains will run or not is simply not acceptable.”

Mr Grayling has confirmed that a meeting will be arranged for next week to allow MPs to be briefed on the detail of what has gone wrong and how it is being solved.