SIR – The concept of improved rail services for Worcestershire (Worcester News, February 20) can only be applauded but if, and when, established, will Norton Parkway significantly improve convenience and travel times?
An additional stop on the Cotswold line can only increase travel times to and from London and the benefit to travellers on cross country services to Birmingham and the north and to Bristol and the south west is marginal when the inconvenience and added travel time to Parkway are included.
The economic growth and prosperity of Worcestershire is dependent upon good travel links with Birmingham, which accounts for the majority of passenger journeys departing from Worcester.
Improved services and reduced journey times to Birmingham are, therefore, essential and the question is whether the optimum solution is either to establish Parkway or alternatively improve the existing rail infrastructure to the benefit a wider passenger catchment.
Most existing direct services from Worcester to Birmingham New Street via Bromsgrove travel the 26.8- mile route in 47 minutes and allowing for stops at Droitwich, Bromsgrove and University achieve an average journey speed of only 34.2mph.
Trains from Worcester Shrub Hill to Cheltenham travel the 21.8 miles in 26 minutes at an average speed of 52.3mph which is considerably faster and the benefit of Parkway to passengers travelling south is, therefore, less significant.
The rolling stock, track and signalling of a 21st-century railway should be capable of achieving average journey speeds greater than 34.2mph and improvements to the existing track and signalling allowing trains to travel at 90mph would reduce the journey time from Worcester to Birmingham to 20-25 minutes.
Additionally, some existing cross country services between Cheltenham and Birmingham could be rerouted via Shrub Hill and Droitwich.
This would increase the route distance of cross country services by 2.5 miles and add a maximum of five minutes only to journey times.
With appropriate connections at New Street, journey times from Worcester to London Euston of less than two hours could be achieved.
ROBERT HARTWRIGHT
Worcester
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