A RAILWAYS revolution is on the way to Worcestershire - with a new "franchise" promising bigger trains and better services.

Worcestershire County Council's Conservative leadership has agreed to press on with an ambitious devolution plan for the rail network.

The move, which has taken two-and-a-half years to negotiate, will see councils across the region wrestle back more control of services via a new franchise called 'West Midlands Rail'.

It comes after serious concern about overcrowded trains and poor services in Worcestershire, with commuters packed in like sardines.

The deal, which the Department of Transport is backing, will see an investor come on board as the partner and pump fresh cash into the railways to deliver an improved offer.

The Worcester News can reveal how two bidders are trying to take on the franchise, one of which involves big Japanese companies.

Under the deal, a list of "committed improvements" have been drawn up for the region, but for Worcestershire specifically it includes more capacity on trains, free Wi-fi and more Sunday and evening services.

The franchise will be awarded to one of the two bidders once their final plans are in by November 30, with extra credit given if either of them propose extra trains from Worcester to Birmingham and Worcester to Gloucester.

A board is overseeing the new franchise made up of councillors from across the region, including County Hall's leadership.

The council's Conservative cabinet has endorsed the plan, voting in favour of entering into a "partnership agreement" with the Department for Transport on it.

It was voted through despite the leader of the opposition Labour group calling for complete renationalisation of the railways during a cabinet meeting today.

Tory Councillor Anthony Blagg, the deputy leader, said: "This is a great idea for devolution for the West Midlands that doesn't require a combined authority."

But Councillor Peter McDonald, Labour group leader, said: "Once again we'll just be subsidising private investors for our railways.

"We have the highest fares in Europe, the only answer is renationalisation, that's the only true devolution we want."

Councillor Simon Geraghty, the leader, said he disagreed with the Labour approach, insisting the council was in a good position.

"This is a sweet spot for us, what we've got here is influence over rail services in the region without the risks of managing contracts," he said.

More details will emerge when the winning bidder is announced over the winter.

The first bidder is a group called Govia, which includes representatives from the operators of the London Midland franchise, while the second brings together East Japan Railways, fellow Japanese firm Mitsui and Dutch-based Abellio Transport.