A LABOUR peer who lives in Worcester is taking his campaign for better railways to a higher level after being appointed government whip in the House of Lords.

But Lord Faulkner of Worc-ester, who was handed the job earlier this month after almost a decade’s membership of the upper house, says he fears a new Parkway station for Worcester remains many years away.

The peer has lived in south Worcestershire for about 30 years and he has a house in the Arboretum area of Worc-ester. His new job means he is now officially known as a Lord in Waiting, with responsibility in the House of Lords on issues relating to transport, Wales and climate change.

He said: “I’m delighted. I’ve been in the House of Lords for 10 years now and it’s an opportunity I thought would not come my way again.

“I was very pleased to be asked.”

Transport, in particular, is a subject very close to Lord Faulkner’s heart.

He is chairman of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group, which campaigns for better rail services between Worcester and London.

He said: “I’m very committed to the growth of the railways. I’m very pleased passenger numbers are continuing to grow and the thing I’m most looking forward to is the completion of the re-doubling of the track between Oxford and Worcester, which should improve reliability.

“It’s something the Cotswold Line Promotion Group has been campaigning for almost since it came into being 30 years ago.

“But the whole renaissance of the railways is something I’m passionate about.”

Lord Faulkner did not criticise his government’s own rail policy over recent years for Britain’s inferior railways, preferring to take a longer-term view.

He said: “As a country we have fallen behind. It’s no particular criticism of this government.

“I used to work for the railways before they went into private hands and the theme then was always one of retrenchment and cost-cutting and falling back.

“We have seen huge growth in demand in recent years.”

However, the peer was less optimistic about the prospects of a new Parkway station being built at Norton, near Worcester, in the near future.

He said: “My own personal view is that it’s some way off. The major project for services around Worcester is obviously the re-doubling of the track.

“I think there are also plans for rebuilding Foregate Street station, making it much more attractive and much more passenger-friendly.

“I’ve been out to Norton and I’ve seen what they want to do.

“ I’m not certain how highly that would score against other investment projects on a national scale.”