A NEW GOVERNMENT fund can be used to unlock the congested Cotswold Line train allowing faster and more frequent services from the county to London and the South East, it was confirmed this week.
The Department for Transport has allocated £500million to invest in projects which will reverse the controversial ‘Beeching cuts’ which closed down hundreds of lines and train stations all over the country.
As part of the process, the line between Worcester and Oxford was downgraded to single track and last week, Pershore’s MP Harriett Baldwin made her own bid to the Department to invest in a project to re-dual sections of the North Cotswold line at Oxford and between Evesham and Pershore.
Today, the Government has confirmed it will be offering money to projects like the Cotswold Line improvement plan as well as allocating £20million to a fund for new stations.
“I raised this issue in a Westminster Hall debate last week and the Rail Minister hinted that he may have a quick solution to my request. This fund will be essential in helping the Cotswold Line taskforce to carry out the prep work to re-dual two crucial sections of track,” Mrs Baldwin said.
“At a time when acting on climate change is a huge priority for us all, I feel that we must do much more to help people use public transport more.
“That means faster, more frequent, more reliable trains and I have long spoken up for this specific dualling project as it will deliver economic benefits to people and business in my constituency and beyond that into Herefordshire.
“I’m hoping the new Worcestershire Parkway will also be a motivation to get better train services connecting the county.
“In addition, all eyes are on the new management at West Midlands Trains to make some significant improvements to their commuter services to and from Birmingham,” she added.
