RAIL campaigners are calling on train operators to provide increased destinations from Stourbridge Junction.

They believe operators are not making enough use of the Stourbridge Line and could improve journey opportunities.

Stourbridge Line User Group, known as SLUG, wants to see more opportunity made available at the Worcester end of the line and sees no reason why Evesham shouldn't have through trains to Birmingham.

They want planners to include a platform for Stourbridge Line trains if the proposed Worcestershire Parkway project gets the likely go-ahead.

SLUG spokesman Bob Randle revealed: "It's ridiculous that passengers wishing to travel to the South West of the country have to travel northwards to catch Bristol bound trains from Birmingham New Street, which isn't even on this line.

"Many of our trains only go as far as Worcester when some of them should be extended to Cheltenham and Gloucester."

SLUG chairman Rob Hebron added: "Commuters used to be able to travel to Hereford on the Stourbridge Line, but now have to go from Birmingham New Street.

"What I would like to see is provision at Worcestershire Parkway for a two-tier station similar to the one at Galton Bridge where travellers could transfer onto the Cheltenham Line.

"At present, train operator London Midland covers stations between Stratford upon Avon and Great Malvern, whilst Chiltern Railways services extend to London.

"It's a wonderful railway offering through journeys beyond Birmingham, but the Worcester end of the line has not been exploited at all.

"There would be a tremendous opportunity if trains could travel to the South West on the Stourbridge Line and it's up to us to try and influence the planners to do this."

London Midland spokesman Francis Thomas said: "We are due to be meeting with SLUG in the next couple of weeks and we are always interested in hearing their ideas as our line user groups are the voice of passengers.

"At the moment Worcestershire Parkway is proposed to open in 2017, while our current contract runs out in 2016.

"It is First Great Western who run services to the South West and they would be best placed to operate it."