West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed confirmation that the Government is due to start spending £48 billion on rail improvements. The rail industry is about to launch a five year programme which will see cash spent across the UK network improving trains, tracks and stations. West Midland Trains is due to deliver service improvements this year and the new Worcestershire Parkway station will open for passengers later this year improving rail connections for county commuters, shoppers and tourists. Harriett commented: “The Government is investing billions of pounds in our rail network in the largest upgrade of the railways since the Victorian era. “We are already seeing some of this come on stream with the impressive work to improve New Street station and the roll out of new trains and carriages on the Cotswold Line. “The new Worcestershire Parkway station will be a huge boost to local rail users and I continue to work with the local authorities and the Department for Transport to deliver further dualling of the line to and from Oxford. “I’m also pleased to see compensation arrangements being improved for local rail users across the Midlands and I plan to get updates on the timetable improvement plans for later this year for rail stations in Malvern and Pershore in due course.”