MP Harriett Baldwin has secured a meeting with the Government’s transport minister in a bid to improve the county’s poor train links to London.

Simon Burns has agreed to meet a delegation from the county, including the West Worcestershire MP and Mid- Worcestershire MP Peter Luff and Worcester MP Robin Walker to discuss the future of the Cotswold Line franchise, which is up for grabs.

The Department for Transport is seeking to award a contract for running the line from 2013 to 2028.

Services from Worcestershire to the capital can take up to three hours – despite commuters asking for faster and more frequent trains for years.

The Cotswold Line is partly single-track, overcrowded and infrequent for both commuters and tourists.

The MPs will meet Mr Burns on Tuesday, December 4, to discuss the franchise requirements and to see if the Government can specify a better service for the area.

Mrs Baldwin said: “The Cotswold Line is a crucial link for businesses and urgently needs improving to help the growth of our local economy.

“At the moment, many of our constituents travel on the West Coast mainline and to Warwick Parkway to avoid the slow and unreliable service on the Cotswold Line.

“The pause in assessing the West Coast and Great Western bids allows us time to renew our call for an improved service for Herefordshire and Worcestershire commuters and a departmental commitment to invest in the infrastructure.”