Great Western Coffee Shop

Tenbury people have chance to comment on rail links

People in Tenbury have a chance to take part in a consultation about improved rail links.

Although Tenbury no longer has a railway station it would mean faster links between Malvern and London.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, whose constituency includes Tenbury, has welcomed proposals to invest in local train services.

Proposals issued by First Great Western will 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 20 minutes shaved off the current journey time. It 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.

Harriett Baldwin claims that his 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. ^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,^ she said. ^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 dual tracking of the Cotswold Line to Oxford. 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

i thought Kemble is the railhead for Tetbury! Could they also be refering to any speed up due to Swidon Kemble redoubling?

What's the station on the Cotswold line?

That seems slightly confused - the story is presumably about planned improvements to the Cotswold Line service, for which I believe a consultation is imminent, but the link is for the wider GW franchise consultation.

A turbo won't be showing up in a few timetables time....

Tenbury MP calls for better rail links

Tenbury MP Harriett Baldwin thinks it is important that people living in Tenbury and the Teme Valley should find it easier to get to London by train.

Although Tenbury lost its railway station half a century ago the MP whose West Worcestershire constituency includes Tenbury believes it is important that there are links to be capital from nearby towns and cities.

The MP has met with Rail Minister Claire Perry as well as representatives of the train operating companies to discuss progress on the planned improvement of rail services for local commuters and on the County plan for a new Parkway station.

First Great Western managing director Mark Hopwood updated her on the progress towards delivering an improved service along the Cotswold Line.

"It was useful to meet with the Minister and hear the rail companies' plans for delivering a better service for local commuters,^ said Mrs Baldwin. "It is also important to see that both operators - London Midland and First Great Western - are working together and they have all got the message that we are resolute in our desire for improvement.^