SUPPORT is growing for a campaign to improve train services in the area organised by a Malvern rail passenger.

Jackie Carey, of Jamaica Road, experienced more problems when she tried to get from Hereford to Malvern Link last Thursday, December 4. Three trains in a row were cancelled - at 3.39pm, 4.25pm and 5.41pm - and when a replacement bus eventually arrived at 5pm, it only had room for 52 passengers, leaving several people stranded at Hereford.

Mrs Carey said there was uproar at the station: "I felt very sorry for the staff. They shouldn't have to be put in the position of having to deal with people who are frustrated and angry at being delayed for hours."

Since launching her campaign last month with a website for passengers to record their concerns at www.notgettingthere.org, Mrs Carey has contacted West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer. She will meet him to discuss the issue of trains at his Malvern surgery next Saturday, December 20.

She has also received advice from Derek Potter, chairman of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group, a rail passenger group of 25 years' experience.

Plans for a public meeting are progressing and Mrs Carey hopes to get representatives from Central Trains and Thames Trains to face Malvern's rail passengers in the new year.

In Ledbury, stationmaster John Goldrick has been monitoring the performance of Central Trains' services.

For the week ending November 29, two trains arrived in Hereford more than 30 minutes late, and two that left the town were delayed by more than half an hour. One train in each direction was cancelled.

"This does not look too bad to me," he said.

Central Trains' has introduced a new timetable which aims to ease congestion and delays to services from Birmingham to Worcester, which could have a knock-on effect on local services.

From Monday, January 5, peak evening services to Worcester and Malvern will depart from Snow Hill station instead of New Street and the company is putting on two new services to Worcester via Bromsgrove each evening.