NEW TRAIN services promised to county commuters have been put on hold after Network Rail abandoned plans to add new services onto the Cotswold Line later this year.
The nationwide halt to improving train services will mean that additional services promised by Great Western Railways will be delayed until at least next May.
Pershore’s MP Harriett Baldwin has had a regular dialogue with the rail operator raising a tranche of complaints from commuters who have faced major inconvenience owing the lack of drivers able to drive the new trains being rolled out on the Great Western lines.
Mrs Baldwin has written to the chief executive of Network Rail and the managing director of GWR asking for detailed explanations on the impact this decision will have on local train services.
“As part of the deal for giving GWR a franchise extension in 2015 we were promised more services along the Cotswold Line as well as new trains with more capacity,” she said.
“As the train line is still single track in parts, I am simply mystified about why Network Rail and GWR can’t get together and implement the promised extra services without affecting the rest of the network.
“Every rail commuter who uses the Cotswold Line will feel frustrated by this news and I share their concerns.
“I’m hoping to meet with Network Rail next month to talk about the issues facing local rail users and will be calling for a rethink of this decision.”
