Scornful union bosses have demanded the renationalisation of the “disgraceful” London Midland railway franchise, after it allegedly cancelled more than 7,500 trains in one year.

The company, which operates services between Watford Junction and London Euston, was this week given a formal notice to improve by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis, who said the company had broken the franchise agreement it signed in 2007.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union is now demanding the renationalisation of the “second worst” franchise on the network.

Figures released by the union show London Midland cancelled 7,558 services in the financial year 2008/2009 – a record exceeded only by the Southern franchise.

Latest figures for this year suggest the cancellation of some 2,714 services between April and October.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said: “London Midland sucked up a £114.2 million subsidy from the taxpayer in 2008/2009 and yet despite that massive bung from the public purse their performance has been a disgrace.

“The privatisation of the railways is collapsing around the Government’s ears and the time has come to draw a line under the franchise disaster and get all these services back under public control where they belong.

“The news of the wholesale failure on London Midland will be another nail in the coffin of the rail privatisation disaster.”

The scathing criticism comes just two months after the company was forced to cancel all its Sunday services on September 6, when too few of its drivers agreed to work.

Are you a London Midland customer? Do you commute every day to work in London? Let us know by commenting below whether you agree with Bob Crow’s assessment of the service.