30 March 2011
West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin this week welcomed the roll out of improved trains for the Cotswold Line to London. The fleet was unveiled by Transport Minister Theresa Villiers at an event in London on Tuesday. The carriages, which are currently being rolled out for use on the line between London and Malvern, have been given new flooring and seat coverings, new air conditioning and a new passenger information system. The fleet improvements are timed to coincide with the news of the new September timetable, which will shave nearly ten minutes from the journey time to London. The time savings will be possible after the addition of 20 miles of track in the work to double the line between Evesham and Oxford. Harriett commented: “I am pleased that First Great Western is investing money in improving the carriages and speeding up the service. “I will continue to lobby to complete all the line doubling from Oxford onwards, with improved signaling at Oxford and Worcester. “I am pleased that First Great Western has also confirmed to me that electrification of the line to Oxford from London will mean that trains can switch quickly and easily between electric and diesel. “I am keen to see an hourly, faster service between Malvern, Pershore and London.” Photo: Transport Minister Theresa Villiers unveils the new fleet in London