West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has backed a strategy to deliver a faster, more frequent, more reliable service for county rail users and highlighted the potential for more ambition.

Harriett met with Midlands Connect chief executive Maria Machancoses to talk about plans to deliver better services to and from Birmingham.

The MP welcomed the plans but urged the transport authority to adopt a wider ambition to improve services for rail users travelling from Malvern and Pershore.

Midlands Connect has published a plan which will see extra trains running between Birmingham and Hereford but Harriett asked them to enhance their planning to include dualling of the North Cotswold Line towards Oxford and London.

Harriett said:

“I have always been a supporter of an improved rail service to allow more  people to use public transport for their commuter and leisure journeys.

“It has long been an ambition of mine to see more dualling of the North Cotswold Line to allow faster, more frequent, more reliable services.

“I’m also eager to see more made of Pershore’s station and to see the progression of plans to build a larger car park at the station.

“I’ve therefore asked Midlands Connect to widen its ambition and ensure that the needs of West Worcestershire commuters are further reflected in their strategy.”