TWO trains an hour will be running between Birmingham and Worcester, as part of a new Midlands-wide railway strategy.

The half-hourly services between Birmingham New Street and Hereford – which stop at Worcester Foregate Street and Droitwich – will also have their journey time cut down to an hour.

The announcement, made by Midlands Connect as part of its Our Routes to Growth report and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling - will include a 20-year strategy to create a ‘Midlands Railway Hub’.

The aim of the Midlands Railway Hub is to better connect cities across the Midlands by shortening journey times, adding more services and creating new routes.

Midlands Connect sees Worcestershire as a key passage for trains to Wales and the South West - helped by the new Worcestershire Parkway station which is due to open in 2019.

The new station will also better connect the county to high-speed railway HS2 in Birmingham, as well as more frequent direct services to Oxford and London.

The doubling of services between Hereford and Birmingham is part of a wider expansion across the Midlands - affecting services as far as Lincoln and Nottingham to the east and Worcester and Hereford to the south.

The extra, quicker service will no doubt be welcomed by commuters travelling to and from Worcester - especially with rush hour trains from Hereford often pulling into Foregate Street already full.

Councillor Ken Pollock, cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, said: "We welcome the announcement from Midlands Connect.

"Our Worcestershire Rail Investment Strategy is a key focus for us and faster, more frequent trains to and from Birmingham will help to boost the county's economy, supporting our aim to be 'open for business'.

"With the new Worcestershire Parkway Station and improved Kidderminster Station opening next year, it's an exciting time for train travel in the county, and the wider region."