VOLUNTEERS, who have spent 30 years encouraging more people in Worcestershire to use the trains, say it is virtually impossible to promote local rail services now because they have become so unreliable.

The 1,700 strong Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG), which aims to safeguard, help improve and promote the use of the Worcester to Oxford and Worcester to Hereford lines, has launched a stinging attack on train operator First Great Western.

It says it has been inundated with complaints from members and other rail users about delays, cancelled services and trains failing to reach their destinations, which are deterring people from using the Cotswold Line services.

The group, which normally tries to work with Network Rail and First Great Western to improve services, is meeting the train company's senior managers tomorrow to discuss the continuing problems on the line.

CLPG chairman Derek Potter said: "We have made certain suggestions to try and improve reliability to First Great Western and as a promotion group have been reluctant to join the public criticism in the hope that measures taken would already have improved the service.

"However the appalling unreliability of the service over recent months, coupled with a lack of reliable information over delays and substitute servicing, is making our job promoting the service virtually impossible and, more importantly, is deterring passengers from using Cotswold Line services."

He adds that First Great Western has apologised to passengers, increased levels of compensation and introduced a new timetable.

But the CLPG claims the new timetable is part of the problem rather than part of the solution, with delays to trains still occurring even after the extended journey times introduced to cater for longer high speed trains.

The group also criticised the first train of the day (the 5.30am) from Malvern to London, which it says has failed to start on a number of occasions and does not to stop at Worcester Foregate Street and Pershore stations.

Richard Rowland, regional manager for First Great Western, said: "We are very aware of the performance along this route and have arranged a meeting with the CLPG to discuss the issues.

"We have worked for many years collaboratively with the CLPG and other stakeholders to develop the timetable and the CLPG has had a great influence on the timetable we run today and also the increase in the use of high speed trains along the Cotswold Line.

"We look forward to continuing this relationship and establishing solutions to the performance issues."