PERSHORE’S MP Harriett Baldwin has urged Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to step in and resolve the long-running saga over improving parking at the town’s railway station.
In a letter to Mr Grayling, Mrs Baldwin has supported his plans to encourage the rail operators and Network Rail to work closer together to integrate rail service improvements.
The proposals set out by the Department for Transport will come into force as each train franchise is renewed but Mrs Baldwin has asked Secretary of State to intervene now to deliver a swift solution for the town.
“One of the major hold-ups delaying the doubling of the Cotswold Line between Worcester and London is the lack of collaboration between the franchise holder and Network Rail,” she said.
“This is compounded by intransigence between the two companies over the proposals to improve car parking in Pershore.
“Wychavon District Council has a simple and workable solution which will benefit local rail users hugely.
“It is such shame that this project is being rendered impossibly expensive by the strictures of Network Rail.
“I hope that the two companies will take this announcement as a nudge to work out a better way to deliver an improved Pershore train station and accelerate the process of bidding for and delivering better services for county rail commuters,” she added.
