CONCERNS have been expressed about cuts to train services in Worcestershire - with a powerful cross-party effort being launched to boost our rail.

The top brass at Worcestershire County Council is going to write to train operating companies to lobby over improvements.

It follows proposals to axe four long-distance trains serving Bromsgrove Rail Station which are under threat despite the site undergoing a £24 million revamp.

Councillors also say they want more assurances over Worcestershire Parkway, which is due to open in 2018.

Labour Councillor Graham Vickery, speaking during a meeting at County Hall, said: "This issue provides us with a glorious opportunity to stop fighting each other, get together and start fighting someone else.

"What we've got to do is impress upon these train operating companies to not only call at stops in the county, but improve links within Worcestershire.

"It's important as far as longer distance trains are concerned, not just in the north of Worcestershire but the south too, so people can get to Worcestershire Parkway and then head south."

Councillor Chris Bloore said: "We all know what happens when you don't fight for services, you lose it, and it doesn't come back."

He added: "If you don't provide proper services at Bromsgrove you won't get them at Worcester's stations either, this debate is about the strategic service."

The proposals for Bromsgrove would stop the 8.23am train from Cardiff to Nottingham, as well as the 7.47am service from Gloucester to Stansted Airport, which sees a total of around 30 passengers alight in the town.

The 5.49pm train from Nottingham to Cardiff would also be cut, despite an average of 21 passengers alighting at Bromsgrove each day, as well as the 6.49pm service from Nottingham to Cardiff.

Bosses at CrossCountry trains, which is consulting over the move, say it would result in "better use of all our available trains, concentrating long distance services on the core network where demand is highest".

Worcestershire Parkway, which is costing at least £22 million, is due to open in the spring of next year and will include a single platform on the Cotswold Line and two platforms on the Birmingham-Bristol Line.

It already has planning permission and funding, despite a private developer still threatening to try and build its own parkway facility on a parcel of land next to the site at Norton.

All county councillors have agreed to back a motion asking the leader Councillor Simon Geraghty the chief executive Clare Marchant to write to train operators, calling for "the optimal service for all current and potential rail users".