HERE’S a question. When is a delayed multi-million pound railway station not a delayed multi-million pound railway station?

When ‘there was never an official opening date’ – or at least that appears to be the response from Worcestershire County Council when asked why Worcestershire Parkway is not going to be operational this side of Christmas.

In fact, while no date may have ever been put forward, the station was initially said to be opening early 2019, then in the summer, and then we were told it was on track for December.

Now, it’s tipped to be early 2020 but, there’s an old adage that seems appropriate here, let’s believe it when we see it.

Parkway has been in discussion for more than a decade and, in fact, a project of this scale is always likely to take a long and winding road to the finish. But patience is wearing thin at the ongoing delay and it really is time now that this station fulfilled all of its promise.

The new year is a good time for a fresh start – let’s hope that it also marks the end of this ongoing delay and the beginning of a better travel future.