AN MP in Worcestershire has repeated her calls for faster, more reliable trains to London - saying she will carry on pressing for improvements.

Harriett Baldwin says the recent three-and-a-half-year extension to the First Great Western franchise is a good sign, but wants more assurances over services.

The train firm runs the Cotswold Line, which goes between this county and the capital, and has secured the extension to the current deal which ends in March 2019.

Mrs Baldwin said: "The new deal offered to First Great Western will give them a level of stability and allow the company to invest in the future.

"I hope that as this news is absorbed, the company will now be able to commit to improved services to the capital with faster, more reliable and more frequent trains.

"I have made the case to protect services which stop at Pershore but hope that we will also see some quicker trains to London as part of this deal.

"With the new Worcester Parkway plans evolving I hope that we get further progress for county commuters very soon.

"I will continue to press Network Rail to complete the long-overdue complete dualling of the line as well."

It comes as Worcestershire County Council presses on with plans for the £17 million parkway plans, which is expected to open in 2017 on land in Norton.

A series of public exhibitions are currently being staged around the county ahead of a planning application being submitted.

It will lead to hourly services towards London, and shave off around 25 minutes from journey times, according to the council.