A KEY rail scheme should be extended to give passengers quicker journeys to London, says an MP.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin says dualling the Cotswold line all the way from Oxford to Worcester would boost passenger capacity and speed up train times, benefiting her constituents.

A 20-mile section of the line is already being improved between Evesham and Charlbury, Oxfordshire, in a £70 million project by Network Rail.

But following a parliamentary question from Mrs Baldwin, transport secretary Theresa Villiers said there had been no talks on improving two remaining stretches on the line.

A nine-mile stretch of single track exists between Norton junction and Evesham and a 10-mile stretch between Charlbury and Oxford.

Mrs Baldwin said she was “disappointed” no talks had been held over dualling the rest of the line, after 2014.

She wants improvements to allow hourly services between the county to London.

“I am shocked it takes 45 minutes longer to get to London than it did 100 years ago,” she said.

“We’re making the case for a 21st-century rail service and it is time rail companies listened.”

The existing scheme, including station improvements, is aimed at giving trains more flexibility when there are delays between Worcester and London and will be finished in autumn 2011.

Currently, there is a small window of opportunity for trains to pass each other on an existing 10-mile stretch of dual track – which the existing scheme will enlarge.

Derek Potter, vice-chairman of campaign body the Cotswold Line Promotion Group, welcomed parliamentary support.

But he said dualling the whole length of the line wasn’t currently necessary.

“On a good day, if everything is running smoothly the line could support an hourly London service,” he said.

“But if there are delays then the timetable fails disastrously.

“With the current improvements trains will have greater flexibility if there are delays on the line, which is what the project was aimed at doing.”

He said it was important MPs continued to lobby the Government.

“Big projects such as the Olympics and the electrification of rail lines will take priority on funding,” he said.

“So it’s important to keep raising the profile of the line because we are competing against other rail projects nationally.

“There are other projects on the horizon, such as the replacement of high speed trains and replacement of signals at Worcester.”

Passenger numbers have increased on the Cotswold line since the 1970s.

The rail line was originally dualled until the Dr Beeching review in the 1960s.