WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed proposals to invest in local train services as part of the largest investment in rail since the Victorian era.
Proposals issued by First Great Western will this week see train times between Malvern and London improved.
The long-awaited timetable improvements will offer two extra train services to Oxford and two routes to London expected to take no more than two hours and seven minutes.
The changes, which have been put out for public consultation, will see twenty minutes shaved off the current journey time, making the service 15 per cent faster.
The document will form part of the new First Great Western franchise which is due for renewal.
The Government has already pledged £13 billion to improve rail services into London and made a commitment to delivering HS2 which will bring huge economic benefits to the Midlands.
This investment is the highest spend on railways since the Victorian era and the First Great Western pledge is an important part of the commitment to rail users in the 21st century.
Harriett commented: “I am delighted that First Great Western share my aspiration to deliver a faster, more reliable and more frequent rail service from Worcestershire to London on the Cotswold Line.
“With electrification of the London-Oxford line and new rolling stock, it’s clear we have a long term economic plan to improve Worcestershire’s economy and its public transport.
“This news follows the Prime Minister’s intervention to ask for additional funding to complete the dualling of the Cotswold Line to Oxford.
“Together with my colleagues Robin Walker and Sir Peter Luff, and Herefordshire colleagues, we have all lobbied to press for better rail services for our area.
“It is important, however, that people do make sure that they have their say and tell First Great Western that these are much needed improvements to the service.”
The consultation details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/309926/gw-consultation-document.pdf