A REVISED timetable for London Midland trains will give Hartlebury passengers their most frequent rail service in nearly 50 years.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff led the celebrations at Hartlebury train station yesterday as he waved off the 9.19am service to Whitlocks End.

The new timetable includes an hourly service between Worcester and Birmingham Snow Hill.

Mr Luff was joined by Hartlebury residents, senior managers from London Midland, Wychavon District Council chairman Gerry O'Donnell and representatives from the Stourbridge Line User Group and Cotswold Line Promotion Group, who worked together to successfully campaign to bring back the service.

Terry Oliver, London Midland’s head of Snow Hill services, said: “We are committed to providing quality journeys for everyone and I’m really pleased that we have been able to modify the timetable to provide a much improved service for the people of Hartlebury."

Hartlebury residents, who applauded as the train pulled into the station for an extended three-minute stop, were given complimentary passes for a day’s free travel on the service.

Stourbridge Line User Group chairman Rob Hebron said: "I am delighted that London Midland has decided to provide an enhanced service for Hartlebury.

"We have persistently requested this improvement and they have delivered. Not only is Hartlebury accessible throughout the day but the village is now plugged into the London Midland network, which is of considerable size.

"It makes sense to fully utilise this station which is an ideal rail head for Stourport. If passengers support this service, as I believe they will, I'm sure London Midland will develop it further."