MORE trains are set to serve Ledbury as part of a huge multi-billion-pound rail project.

Extra services between Worcester and Birmingham would be provided as part of the Midlands Rail Hub project with an ambition to eventually connect the county with the controversial high-speed HS2 line.

An extra train would also run between Worcester Foregate Street and Hereford, via Ledbury, every hour – doubling the number of services to every half an hour rather than once an hour.

Under the plans revealed by Midlands Connect  another train would stop at Worcester Foregate Street from Birmingham Moor Street every hour which would connect the city to HS2 via Birmingham’s new Curzon Street terminal.

Half-hourly services would also run in both directions between Birmingham and Cardiff through Worcestershire Parkway near Worcester where trains currently only run once every hour.

Midlands Connect said it would cut the journey time between Worcester and Birmingham by around five minutes.

The work could start in 2025 with an aim of finishing by 2030.

The new services would require some engineering works with parts of the single-track line between Worcester and Hereford doubled up so trains can move past each other safely and more often.

Two extra services would also be put on between Birmingham and Redditch and Bromsgrove so trains would be available every 10 minutes.

The multi-billion-pound Midlands Rail Hub aims to improve train connections between Birmingham, the rest of the West Midlands, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, the East Midlands, the South West and Wales through improvements to various routes, tracks, junctions, stations and platforms and signalling.

Sir John Peace, chair of Midlands Connect, said: "This is a truly momentous occasion for us, we are proud to unveil this detailed plan for infrastructure changes which will transform our region.

"We know the project has the backing of the businesses, communities and political leaders in the Midlands, and we stand ready to kickstart its delivery and get spades in the ground.

"The Midlands Rail Hub will significantly impact the future of travel for generations to come."