Officials from Whitehall’s Department for Transport came to Worcester to hear what people wanted form the new Great Western franchise when it was renewed in 2022.

And they left County Hall knowing, in no uncertain terms. The officials came to Worcester as part of a major public consultation process to find out the priorities for whichever rail operator runs the franchise area, which includes services to Worcester from Bristol and Oxford, for the seven to 10 years after 2022.

Or indeed, which two operators.One of the questions raised in the consultation is whether the franchise area should be split into two.

One member of the public David Redgewell didn’t like that idea.

He said: “I think the idea is barking mad. The franchise needs to be integrated so that local trains meet national and inter-city trains.

“I don’t know here this proposal comes form. Nobody in the franchise area wants it, and I think we should kill it as soon as possible.”

Worcester’s MP Robin Walker was also concerned at the thought.

He said: “What we don’t like feeling here is as if we are a branch line – and if there were two operators running services to Worcester then I hope we wouldn’t become even more marginalised.”

One thought Mr Walker had was whether the North Cotswold line from Oxford to Worcester and onto Hereford could be run as its own small franchise like the Chiltern line.

And while Matt Tyler from the DfT showed statistics that showed reliability and having trains on time was the single most important thing for passengers, Mr Walker added: “I sometimes think that worrying about reliability gets in the way of growth of service and speed

He added: “This consultation might also capture the views of people who use the rains, but what about those who don’t because it doesn’t serve their needs at the moment. You also need to know what they want.”

Mr Tyler said he was acutely aware of deficiencies of Both the North Cotswold service and of services between Worcester and Bristol

Responses and points should be made to the Department for Transport by February 21. Email: GWconsultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk