AN ambitious project to encourage more people on to trains by improving the rail network in Worcestershire and Herefordshire was revealed by the Cotswold Line Promotion Group yesterday (Tuesday).

CLPG chairman Ian Baxter gave a presentation to the Rail Passengers Committee Western England meeting in Hereford revealing the £100 million scheme to improve existing stations, open new ones, reopen lines including the Cheltenham to Stratford link through Honeybourne, and generally improve the service provided on railways.

The scheme was supported by the rail passengers' watchdog which has also recently unveiled its own 20-year vision for rail travel in the region.

The CLPG scheme is now progressing up the Railtrack project rankings in the hope of eventually attracting funding.