THE LONG-RUNNING saga over improvements to Pershore railway station’s has moved a step closer to being resolved after town MP Harriett Baldwin confirmed she would meet rail chiefs to discuss the way forward.
Fed-up commuters have been calling for a bigger car park at the town’s station for more than a decade and Mrs Baldwin confirmed she was on the verge of a meeting with rail bosses in a bid to break the impasse.
Rail chiefs have been urged to deliver much-needed improvements for the car park which has been at the centre of war of words between Network Rail and landowners Carlton Smith Ltd since 2002.
Mrs Baldwin spoke in the week Network Rail confirmed work would take place next month to lengthen the platform at the station to accommodate new trains on the Cotswold Line.
“It’s good news Network Rail is investing money improving Pershore’s station and I have a meeting with them shortly to work out how we can deliver the much needed improvements to the car park,” she said.
The West Worcestershire MP has urged local rail users to plan ahead to avoid cancelled and delayed trains at stations including Pershore.
Replacement bus services will be in place between Moreton in Marsh and Worcester from November 17 until November 25 and some services will not stop at Pershore.
Rail bosses have admitted the work will impact local commuters but insisted the work was essential to allow for new, longer trains to stop at Pershore station.
“I recently met with GWR and they briefed me on the plans to extend platforms at stations including Pershore. This is being done in advance of adding better, longer trains to the Cotswold Line,” she said.
“There will be quite a lot of disruption for travellers so I am helping to spread the word so that people who are travelling to and from London that week can make alternative plans
Visit www.gwr.com/travel-updates/planned-engineering/cotswolds2018 for more.
