MPs in Worcestershire are encouraging people to get involved in proposals to sink £275 million into railway improvements - to help shape the huge transformation.

Two weeks ago we revealed how Great Western Railways has announced an eight-year plan to upgrade the Cotswold Line, linking Worcester with London.

The company's franchise expires in 2019 but bosses hope the long-term blueprint will secure it a new deal beyond this decade.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who will benefit from it hugely as the line passes through Oxford, helped launch the announcement earlier this month.

Now MPs in the county are asking the public to "study the plans" in detail to make sure Worcestershire gets the right deal.

If it becomes a reality, it would mean Worcester being connected to both major cities by two trains every hour - with one an "express service" reaching the capital in under two hours.

City MP Robin Walker has now urged people to help argue "the strongest possible case" for why Worcester needs the investment.

The Conservative told your Worcester News he felt the upgrade was both "achievable and likely" if enough lobbying takes place.

The rail firm is considering a partial redoubling of the line, instead of a full one costing many hundreds of millions, to deliver the changes.

Mr Walker said: "It takes far too long to get to Worcester on the direct service from London and as a result I know that they are losing customer to travel via Birmingham or Warwick Parkway.

"We now have a chance to put forward a cast iron case for a better service, one that they support and which I believe the Government can help to make work.

"We have come a long way from the days of a nationalised British rail that not only tore up the double track between Oxford and Worcester but once considered scrapping our direct service altogether."

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin said: "Our critical priority has to be dualling along more of its length, enabling many more services to run to and from London.

"I think it's a really useful framework for the future and hope local people study the plans and make their views known."

The rail firm says its aim is to better link Worcester to London and Heathrow, generate more visits to help tourism and reduce congestion between Worcester, Oxford and London.

Anyone wanting more details or to offer feedback on why the investment is needed can email Mr Walker on robin.walker.mp@parliament.co.uk.

Businesses can also contact Great Western directly through regional manager Tom Pierpoint at tom.pierpoint@gwr.com.