PLANS to cut spending on the rural rail network led to an angry response from train passengers in the Malvern Hills area.

A consultation document, released by the Strategic Rail Authority, suggested spending be focused on commuter routes, not rural lines.

This means train journeys for Malvern people could become slower because of speed restrictions and spending on track maintenance could be cut by 50 per cent.

Carol Peters, of Barnards Close, catches the train from Great Malvern to Ledbury, where she works in the hospital's brain injury unit.

"I think the cutbacks would be a bad idea," she said. "Because I don't have a car I rely on the train to get to the hospital in time to be on duty."

Rose Cutler, of Lansdowne Terrace, travels three times a week to Worcester where she works as a legal secretary.

"I don't think the rail system is very good and the planned cutbacks would make it even more difficult for me to get into work," she said.

Sean O' Neill, secretary of the western area rail passengers committee, said the proposals were under consideration and the committee would devise a response to them.

"We realise the importance of local rail networks to communities and individuals and want to make our case as strongly as possible to the people in London," he said.