RAIL travel from Hereford to London is set to improve thanks to major engineering works.

A £48 million scheme to double-track parts of the “Cotswold Line” has been sanctioned by the Office of Rail Regulation.

The line - which links Hereford and Worcester to Oxford and Paddington - is mostly single track, and can be subject to delays.

The scheme will see 20 miles of track upgraded from Evesham to Charlbury in Oxfordshire, allowing more trains and services.

Work should be completed by 2010, and Herefordshire Council have welcomed the news.

“This is good news for the line," said councillor Brian Wilcox, cabinet member for highways and transportation.

"Residents will benefit from greatly improved reliability of service, and the potential will exist for more frequent trains between Herefordshire and London."