THE number of trains stopping at Pershore station is set to reduce by two when changes by First Great Western come into force next spring.

The move by the train operator comes after a series of consultations and is a reduction from the four stops originally at risk of getting the chop from the timetable.

Amendments to the plans, which hope to see faster journey times between Worcester and London, took a turn for the better for Pershore after Cotswold Line Promotion Group hit out at the plans and were backed by Pershore MP Harriett Baldwin.

The MP said she blocked proposals to remove four stops from Pershore and was backed by Rail Minister Claire Perry.

She has also written to Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne ahead of the publication of the spring timetable.

"The initial proposals suggested that some totally unacceptable changes were being proposed for Pershore and I was strongly resistant to this plan," said Mrs Baldwin.

"I am surprised that an old version of the plans is now being circulated and I wanted to reassure people that I am in discussion with the department to clarify this issue.

"We all want faster, more reliable and more frequent trains, but this must not be at the expense of services in Pershore.

"I have been in touch with the minister and I hope to clarify this position and make sure that the correct information is published once it is agreed by all parties."

As part of the changes there will be peak journey time improvement by 21 minutes from Hereford and Worcester, two additional direct services from Worcester to Oxford and Paddington, a new morning HST from Moreton at 7.11am and a service extension through to Worcester in the afternoon.

A spokesman for First Great Western said: "This is an evolutionary step towards the longer term timetable solutions that we would like to see established when electrification is complete and new Intercity Express Trains are introduced.

"As part of the consultation process First Great Western changed its initial proposals for Pershore services, and the current proposals retain a call there in the 5.49pm Paddington to Worcester service, and add a stop into our new 12.11pm Hereford to London Paddington train.

"There will still be a reduction of two services a day during the week, which allows us to run some of the new, more frequent services.

"What we seek to do is to deliver the greatest overall benefit for the communities we serve."

The proposed changes for May 2015 have been agreed by the Department for Transport and are now before Network Rail for their approval."