STUDENTS at Pershore High School have joined a campaign to restore a train service from their local station.
Pershore Youth Council, which is based at the High School, has already written to train company First Great Western to protest at the planned withdrawal of the 3.42pm Pershore stop from Worcester from May.
The 3.42pm train, due to run six minutes later in the new timetable, currently takes pupils from the High School to Evesham as well as many more travelling from Worcester schools and colleges back to Pershore.
Students say this withdrawal would make them totally dependent on the following 4.13pm service and if this is heavily delayed or cancelled the next train is almost 90 minutes away, which could have particular implications for young people stranded.
Pershore town councillor Julian Palfrey said First Great Western has told the town council if there is a problem with the 4.13pm service they would make every effort to provide alternative transport.
The town council responded with a letter to say it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to source transport at short notice from an unmanned station, especially in view of the demands on local coach and taxi companies at this busy time of day.
The students have called for Pershore’s present train services to be maintained and improved to cater for the major growth in housing and demand for transport likely to be created by ongoing plans for up to 600 houses to be built within half a mile of the
town’s station.
Supporting the students Pershore High School head Clive Corbett said: “As headteacher of Pershore High School I am concerned at the impact of any further reduction in public transport services.
“Such changes impact significantly upon the opportunities that young people have to travel in rural areas and are therefore of grave concern.”
