Rail boost for Stourbridge and Kidderminster
Rail passengers in Stourbridge and Kidderminster will be able to reach the capital from just over two hours with a new high speed link.
Chiltern Railways is introducing the "fastest ever" links to London.
The new times have been welcomed by rail users in the area who say the local economy will be boosted.
The railway firm is launching a new timetable giving commuters from Stourbridge travel times to the capital of as little as two hours 11 minutes at peak times and on Saturdays – eight minutes faster than current journey times.
The rail link will start from December 9 and the timetable is online from today.
The new fast direct link from Kidderminster to London will depart at 6.09am, taking two hours 20 minutes – nine minutes quicker than the current time – and at 7.09am with a journey time of two hours 26 minutes.
From Stourbridge, the trains will leave at 6.18am, taking two hours 11 minutes, and at 6.38am for a two hour 25 minute journey.
Return services will leave London at 5.15pm, arriving at Kidderminster and Stourbridge 18 minutes earlier than the existing 5.07pm train. On Saturdays, the silver trains will leave Kidderminster at 7.12am and 9.10am and Stourbridge at 7.22 and 9.20am.
Rob Hebron, chairman of the Stourbridge Line Users Group, said: "This is fantastic news. It is a vote of confidence in this section of the line and it means Chiltern is committed to keep providing a service here.
"It is very important for the local economy that people can get to the capital and this will make it easier and encourage more people to use the service."
