Rail managers today outlined their vision of a new direct train service from Shropshire to London – including trains capable of speeds of up to 125mph taking passengers to the capital twice a day.

Virgin Trains said it would run two services to and from the county each day from Monday to Saturday if it wins the right to run a service to London Euston.

• See also: Rail row over London link

The operator said the route would be covered by its Super Voyager trains.

Virgin Trains chief operating officer Chris Gibb said the Super Voyagers are capable of tilting and can travel at 125mph with four coaches.

The operator is proposing to stop in Shropshire at Shrewsbury, Wellington and Telford.

Outside of the county it would use a route to Euston that is not currently being used by passenger trains, Mr Gibb said.

Its earliest train to London and latest train back from the capital would also stop at Whitchurch and Wem.

The other two each day would stop at Gobowen, if the proposals are approved.

Mr Gibb said 21 of the Super Voyagers were already operating but scope was identified to offer more if depots were upgraded.

He said: “We’ve reached the point now where we’re spending money on the depots over the next few months.

“By the time get to December we will have a spare Super Voyager available. We’ve looked around all our routes and what people have been asking of us and decided the best.”

He said the one which was most wanted was a new direct service to London.

Under Virgin’s proposals – which would need approval from the Rail Regulator and would rival the existing Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway service to London – trains would leave the county at 6.38am and 2.24pm, returning from Euston at 10.33am and 5.46pm.

Concerns have been raised by Wrexham & Shropshire and MPs that any rival service would need to be operated fairly.

Mr Gibb said Virgin Trains would provide the “business-type” of service to London on fast trains, and its services would complement those provided by Wrexham & Shropshire.

He said: “We’re not afraid of competition. We will happily compete with anybody who comes along under the rules determined at the time. It’s for the Rail Regulator to decide.”

HOW THE SERVICE WOULD RUN

• It would use the Super Voyager trains. These carry four coaches and are capable of speeds up to 125mph.

• Two trains would run between Shrewsbury and Euston from Monday to Saturday with one each way on Sundays.

• The first train of the day would leave Shrewsbury at 6.38am, arriving in Euston at about 9.32am. There would also be a second from the town at about 2.24pm, arriving in the capital at 5.20pm.

• Return services would leave Euston at 10.33am arriving in Shrewsbury at about 1.23pm, with a second leaving the capital at 5.46pm and arriving in Shrewsbury at 8.36pm.

• The Rail Regulator would have to grant access rights to Virgin Trains for it to operate a service between Shrewsbury and Euston.

• If approved the services could be introduced in December.

• The county’s direct rail link to London was restored last year when train operator Wrexham & Shropshire began its service to London Marylebone.

• In December, Arriva Trains Wales said it was looking at providing three trains a day between Aberystwyth and London Marylebone, via Telford.

By John Kirk