A TRAIN station which has been slammed by commuters is set to receive £70,000 of state-of-the art technology.

Work will start this month on Droitwich railway station's customer information systems.

Rail users say that the station's existing system of pushing a button for details of train times often gives unreliable information.

But this announcement means there will be new information screens, giving up-to-the-minute times.

Central Trains will manage the project on behalf of the Department For Transport, which will fund the work as part of the government's Modern Facilities At Stations Scheme.

The train company revealed the investment after the Worcester News highlighted criticisms from commuters.

Gail Bakewell, of Droitwich, described the station's current facilities, with the exception of the caf, as "rubbish".

"It's a bit like the back of beyond here," said the 40-year-old travel agent.

"In the morning its terrible and you never really know what train you're getting on."

Max Beaver said that the station was "archaic".

"The queues for the ticket office are extreme in the mornings," said the 25-year-old business account manager, of Droitwich.

Photographer Julie Cook added: "The recorded information is not much of a benefit because it's often out of date.

"It doesn't tell you why the train is cancelled, it just tells you if it's not coming," said the 54-year-old, who lives in Hagley.

Although Central Trains' current customer information screens at Droitwich show departure and platform details, they are obsolete and difficult to update when things change, says the firm.

The new system will use a national computer linked to track-side equipment to record the exact location of thousands of trains across the country. This information is fed to the screens, giving passengers real time arrival and departure times.

Public address systems will also be installed, which will benefit partially sighted people in particular.

The project is expected to be finished by January and is part of £426,000 worth of improvements at stations throughout the two counties.

Worcester Foregate Street, Worcester Shrub Hill, Ledbury, Colwall, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Bromsgrove and Kidder- minster will also receive the new technology.