Herefordshire rail passengers are to get a full hourly train service in each direction between Hereford and Birmingham.
The extra services were announced after a meeting set up by Rail for Herefordshire that was attended by Councillor John Stone (Chairman of Herefordshire Council), Councillor Brian Wilcox (Herefordshire Council's cabinet member for highways and transportation) and Jim Davies (Herefordshire Council's public transport manager).
Representatives from the three train operators London Midland, First Great Western and Arriva were also at the meeting.
London Midland trains will operate a full hourly service between 7am and 7pm and the present gaps that prevent passengers travelling to and from Birmingham in mid-morning and mid-afternoon will be filled.
Janet Shott, joint chairman of Rail for Herefordshire, said: "The current timetable makes it difficult for passengers from Herefordshire to get to or from Birmingham for half-day meetings so the new service should see greater use of the train and reduced car journeys which will benefit the environment."
Councillor Brian Wilcox, Herefordshire Council's cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: "These extra train services are really good news for the county which is seeing a significant increase in the number of people travelling by train.
"Travelling by train not only helps reduce congestion on our roads but is also, with rising fuel prices, it can often be cheaper than travelling by car.
"I am pleased London Midland have also agreed to alter the times of trains between Hereford and Worcester so there are better connections with services to London and there will also be an improved service to Cheltenham and Gloucester," he added.
Steve Banaghan, Managing Director of London Midland, said:
"We're pleased to be able to provide a full hourly service
including two extra services to Hereford from Birmingham New Street
a day as part of our new timetable improvements, which will go live
on December 14.
"We're sure these services will be welcomed by passengers; they are
just one of ways we are boosting rail services in the Herefordshire
and Worcestershire, together with many other improvements we are
making elsewhere across our network," he added.