A PROPOSAL to double the Cotswold Line near Evesham has delighted a key passengers' group.

The Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG) has been actively encouraging full use of the line since 1978.

Spokesman Julian Palfrey said: "There have been various proposals for a while to double the line and it's positive that Network Rail is looking at its available funding and planning to look at some of the lines which have faced neglect in the past. This will help with growth in the area and help prevent hold-ups on the line."

The voluntary group's aims include safeguarding the future of the line and promoting improvements in rail passenger services and in bus feeder services to and from railheads. It also works to publicise the line both within and outside the area and holds regular meetings with train managers.

In 1986, the group's activities were extended to include the Worcester to Hereford line. It considers that a mix of through and local services are essential to the future of the railway.

The group has worked to increase use of the line so that no further downgrading, or ultimately closure, would occur.

Its successes include the renaissance of Hanborough and Pershore services. When the group was formed, only two or three trains per day called at the two stations.

There was also the retention of some direct InterCity trains to and from London following British Rail's move to withdraw all such trains from May 1982, due to the poor state of the track. The gradual upgrading of the track, enabling faster trains to operate, has been achieved after pressure from the group.

May 1981 saw the re-opening of Honeybourne station and in 1987 there was the introduction of a weekday mid-evening train from Oxford to Worcester and Great Malvern, now the 19.18 from Paddington to Hereford.

In 1998, a further train from London, the 20.18 to Moreton, was added in response to requests from passengers. It has now been extended to Worcester Shrub Hill.

This has also enabled a new late evening service to be operated at 22.48 from Worcester Shrub Hill to Pershore, Evesham, Honeybourne and Moreton-in-Marsh on Mondays and Fridays.

In May 1993, there was the reinstatement of the through services to and from London which were lost in 1983.

Withdrawal of closure plans for Combe and Finstock stations came in May 1994 then reinstatement of year-round Sunday morning services.

More recently, there was a concession in 2005 from First Great Western Link to hold the noon departure from Oxford to London by up to five minutes in the event of late running of the connecting Cotswold Line service from Great Malvern.