Time is right to get clock back on track

Central Trains, the company which operates the station, says it has just received estimates for repairs to the antique timepiece, which has been out of action for several years.

The company says it will come to a decision soon on how and when work is to be carried out.

"We want to get the clock working again," said a spokesman Jed Burgess.

"It's a matter of raising the cash and we have to put it to the directors. We don't have that much money available at the moment."

Margaret Baddeley, the owner Lady Foley's Tea Rooms, provides sustenance to hungry travellers just next to the giant clock. Her customers often sit at tables on the platform beneath it and she is very much in favour of having it repaired.

"It looks so awful not going," she said, "It's really confusing for customers, you're always hearing them say 'look at the time'."

The clock, which is thought to be an original feature of the Victorian station, will cost around £1,000 to repair.

Local clock expert Richard Manning has submitted an estimate for the job, which he believes will be relatively simple.

"The main logistical problems will involve getting it down from the roof and putting it back up again," he said.

"It would be much cheaper to get it going again than to replace it. The mechanism has not seized up and it would be lovely to see it working again.

"There used to be many clocks like this in stations all over the country but most of them have been taken down and sold. Malvern is lucky to still have it."

Julian Palfrey, vice-chairman of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group, said: "It's a nice clock and an integral part of the station.

"It's the first thing that people see when they get off the train. Central has got much bigger problems to sort out but we've been pointing it out to them for a long time now."

The station is a listed building, which means the clock is under a degree of protection. Similar clocks have been restored at Worcester Shrub Hill and Lincoln stations.