NEW state-of-the-art technology costing £426,000 is to be installed at railway stations in Worcestershire and Herefordshire to give passengers up-to-the-minute, accurate train information.

Rail users at Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Bromsgrove and Kidderminster will benefit from Central Trains' investment. The new information system is linked directly into the national computer that uses trackside equipment to monitor and record the exact location of thousands of trains across the country.

This information is then fed directly to the screens, giving passengers accurate 'real time' arrival and departure times.

The stations will also have brand new public address systems installed.

At the moment Central Trains' stations in the two counties have obsolete information screens and they are difficult or impossible to update quickly when things go wrong. The stations will also have brand new public address systems installed.

Central Trains Director of Network Services Tony Brown says: "Our passengers tell us that, along with safety and punctuality, access to accurate information is a high priority.

"The new screens will give passengers information where they need it most, on the platform.

"This also marks the delivery of one of our key franchise extension commitments to improve the flow and quality of information to our passengers".

The scheme is part of a £2m improvement programme which will see more than 30 Central Trains stations benefit from improved customer information. Work to install the screens will begin next month.

The stations in Worcester are the biggest recipients of the investment with Foregate Street and Shrub Hill getting £96,000 and £92,000 respectively.

Ledbury station will benefit to the tune of £55,000, Colwall £25,000, Great Malvern £44,000, Malvern Link £44,000, and Kidderminster £49,000.