West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed confirmation that rail chiefs can deliver on her requests for extra train services at the popular Worcestershire Parkway train station.
Dame Harriett questioned the Department for Transport on progress delivering the changes and Rail Minister Huw Merriman confirmed that the plans are advanced to add extra train services which could come to fruition through timetable changes next May.
The station was opened to customers in 2019 and despite a reduced demand during the pandemic, the new facility is operating well ahead of projections, with extra car parking capacity on the way.
Dame Harriett recently met with representatives from Cross Country Trains to ask for an update on proposals to add extra services stopping at the station including the much-needed service to and from Manchester.
The rail operator has been working with the Department as part of planning to roll out an additional 60 carriages in its fleet.
Dame Harriett said:
“One of my key priorities for this year is to make the case for more services stopping at the very popular Worcestershire Parkway station and I met with the Secretary of State for Transport to make the case one-to-one.
“It is clearly already a high-performing station and I know from my postbag that there is strong demand for additional services – especially the service to Manchester where a lot of our local companies do business.
“I am told that the arguments for the extra service have been made but it now needs to fit into the national timetable changes. I am therefore delighted to hear from the Rail Minister that this could happen as early as May next year.
“This forms part of my pledge to local rail users to improve local connectivity by also adding extra car park capacity at Pershore station and the further dualling of the train line between Worcester and Pershore.
“I will continue to keep pressing for the Cross Country train timetable additions as we seek to offer many more commuting options for local people and local businesses.”