THE chance of Malvern Wells railway station reopening is growing more remote.

No mention of it is made in Worcestershire County Council's latest draft of the Local Transport Plan 2006-2011, which has just been published.

One of the plan's main priorities is a new station at Norton, near Worcester, to link London and Birmingham lines. It says ideas for other new stations are "unlikely" to be implemented.

In 1990, the rail passenger watchdog, the Rail Passenger Committee (RPC) of Western England called for Malvern Wells station to be reopened. The idea was supported at the time by Malvern Wells Parish Council.

Chairman Jan Bowden said this week: "It would have been nice, so it's a matter of some regret that it's apparently not going to happen but in the district council's plan, the land where the station was is allocated for housing, so that seems to put the lid on it."

The draft Local Transport Plan also recommends improved car parking at Malvern Link station and improved pedestrian, cycle and bus access for all stations.

It says rail operating companies should be pressed to improve the line through Malvern and Ledbury, including upgrading single-track sections to double track.

County council spokesman Lee Shrimpton said: "We're open to any and all suggestions and, when the consultation period is over, they will be considered by the Transport Planning Team."

The final version of the plan will be published in March 2006.