Capital rail link to boost region

Shropshire’s new rail link to the capital will be a great asset for business and tourism with hundreds more people expected to flood to the county, community leaders have said.

Operator Wrexham & Shropshire will officially start the direct service to London Marylebone on Monday when there will be five trains a day in each direction. Business leaders who attended a special shadow service to Wolverhampton yesterday praised the opportunities the direct link will give the county.

Faye Easton, of Shropshire Enterprise, said: “My main interest is in the people who will be able to come up here.

“At the moment, people are put off by the cumbersome journey but this is one of the best opportunities we have seen in a decade.”

Wrexham & Shropshire customer services manager Diane Davidson said it was important to the company to retain a link with Shropshire. Much of the food on board is supplied by local firms.

“It’s locally sourced wherever we can and we are using a local caterer from Ellesmere - the Corporate Food Company and they are sourcing from local farmers,” she said.

“It’s important people know we care about the food and it’s local. We are trying to have a Welsh signature dish as well.”

Commercial manager Richard Harper said the company was hiring carriages for the first few months of operation, but customers could still expect a first class service before the company’s new coaches were brought in.

He said: “We have done that so we can launch the service as early as possible.

“We will be running with these carriages for about two months and then introducing our own refurbished carriages which will be to the highest standards and we will be able to offer many facilities such as power sockets for lap-tops and mobile phones, two wheelchair spaces, disabled toilets and wi-fi internet.”

Wrexham & Shropshire managing director Andy Hamilton said he was excited, but apprehensive about Monday’s launch.

“We want to make sure everything is right,” he said. “There’s still lots to do before Monday but we will be ready.

“The key thing I want people to go away from our service saying is ‘wasn’t I looked after well’ and that’s what will make people come back again.”