RAILWAY pressure groups are rallying behind the campaign to save Hartford as a West Coast mainline station.

Virgin Trains has announced that it will stop four vital daily commuter services between Hartford and London when its new timetable comes in on May 19.

Peter Robinson, Campaign Officer at West Coast 250, a group set up to champion the cause of the West Coast Mainline, said: "We have a meeting scheduled for early April and I can assure you that Hartford Station will be mentioned."

John Moorehouse of the Rail Passengers' Committee added: "Regarding this issue we are on your side.

"There is a lot of potential at Hartford which has a sizeable catchment population and is a useful park and ride station.

"We are having a meeting with Virgin Trains on April 5 and Hartford will definitely be on the agenda."

The Guardian's petition against the closure, which now has over 2,000 signatures, will be presented to Virgin representatives at the meeting with the Rail Passengers' Committee.