Direct trains from Stonehouse and Stroud to Birmingham stopped in the early 2000s.

Now Stroud MP Dr Simon Opher (Labour) has discussed the Midlands Rail Hub with Midlands Connect and rail chiefs and how it could deliver up to 260 extra trains per week through Stroud and Stonehouse.

Midlands Rail Hub is the region's biggest and most ambitious rail improvement scheme - a £1.75bn blueprint for faster, better and more frequent connections across the Midlands.

Midlands Connect researches, develops and progresses transport projects which will provide the biggest possible environmental, economic and social benefits for the Midlands and the rest of the UK.

The scheme could also deliver over 2m extra seats per year for passengers between Swindon and Birmingham via Stroud and Stonehouse. This might be made a possibility by Midlands Rail Hub providing capacity for a new hourly Swindon to Birmingham service to operate.

The last time a direct service ran between Stroud and Stonehouse and Birmingham was the early 2000s. Since then, people have had to change trains in Cheltenham, Gloucester or even Reading. Reinstating a direct service between Swindon and Birmingham could be gamechanger for people making journeys by rail.

The project will also deliver a jobs boost - more than 12,750 roles are expected to result from the Midlands Rail Hub's first phase, which will be primarily benefit travellers in the West Midlands, South Wales and the South West.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced she is funding the first phase of the rail upgrade in the spending review, which sets government budgets for the coming years. The scheme was also mentioned in the recent government 10-year infrastructure strategy.

At the end of August, it was announced that the project had taken a major step forward to delivery, with identification of the preferred alliance partners including VolkerRail, Laing O'Rourke, AtkinsRéalis, Siemens Mobility and Network Rail.

Dr Simon Opher MP said: "This is a major boost for transport in our area. Currently, passengers often face long waits and frustrating connections at Gloucester or Cheltenham when travelling further afield, and cancellations can leave many stranded.

"The introduction of these direct trains will make journeys to Birmingham far simpler and more reliable. At the same time, passengers from Stroud and Stonehouse will benefit from more frequent services to Swindon, Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa - bringing faster, more convenient travel closer to home.

"We need to encourage more people to use public transport by having more regular and reliable services. Reliable services like these not only help us get to work, school and vital medical appointments on time, but also reduce congestion on our roads and cut carbon emissions, supporting a greener, healthier community."

Andy Clark, rail programme lead at Midlands Connect, said: "It was great to meet Simon and brief him on the current plans and show him how our work will deliver real benefits for his area and his constituents.

"This would be a real boost for passengers. The Midlands Rail Hub is the flagship scheme of Midlands Connect and it was great to see Simon and see how the ripples of this national project reach out beyond the Midlands.

"Residents, commuters and businesses in Stonehouse and Stroud will see real benefits of more trains and more seats."