ROBIN Walker says a parliamentary debate on improvements to the rail line between Worcester and Oxford are the”next step” to securing regular, faster trains from the city to London.

The MP was speaking after a debate on the issue, led by West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, that took place on Wednesday. MPs discussed the bid to dual track two sections of the North Cotswold Line that would mean faster trains would no longer need to slow down through the single-line sections, as they currently do. The scheme would mean regular trains from Worcester to London, getting there in less than two hours. One of the sections is five miles of track, from Evesham to Pershore, and the scheme would also see the introduction of a second platform at Pershore.

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The Cotswold Line Promotion Group and West Midlands Rail ​Executive, as well as a number of councils, are on the North Cotswold Line Taskforce that has submitted a strategic outline business case to the Department for Transport. MPs are now requesting the government provide £1.5 million of the £3 million cost so that an outline business case can be prepared for 2022. Taskgroup members would pay the other half.

Mr Walker said: “At the moment we have one train per hour that gets to London in less than two hours. It is very frustrating that is the only one. I want them to be more regular, and this scheme would allow that. The overall scheme would cost £200 million, but it would provide a £900 million boost to the economy, which is why I would hope it would be seen as attractive.”

During the debate, Mrs Baldwin said: “The proposals are sensible, modest but impactful, and achievable in the tangible future.”

The government has said it will respond before the end of February to the request.