A cross-party group will be formed to campaign for improvements at Shrewsbury Railway Station after questions were raised about the standards of its maintenance.

Daniel Kawczynski, Conservative MP for Shrewsbury, and Councillor Mansel Williams are to form the group to lobby Network Rail, which runs the UK’s rail network, and Arriva Trains Wales over the station.

Last month Mr Kawczynski hit out at rail bosses claiming Wolverhampton station was kept “spick and span” but there was concern about weeds and other issues at Shrewsbury’s station.

The new group will also campaign to ensure Shropshire’s direct rail service to London, run by rail company Wrexham & Shropshire, is protected.

Arriva Trains Wales wants to introduce its own service to the capital from the county.

Mr Kawczynski said: “We want to form a cross-party group to campaign on behalf of Shrewsbury Railway Station.

“We have the same objectives – to clean up the station and to protect our direct rail service to London because we are worried that Arriva Trains Wales want to put in a spoiler service which would make it more difficult for Wrexham & Shropshire to be viable.”

The MP has already tabled a Commons motion calling on Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales to “show more respect for Shrewsbury”.

Councillor Mansel Williams, who represents the Belle Vue ward of Shrewsbury with Shropshire Council, said the council and Arriva Trains Wales were “quite advanced” with talks to improve and repair walls on Platform Seven of the station.

He added: “We would hope that any additional service by Arriva Trains Wales would complement the existing service and not undermine it.”

A spokeswoman for Arriva Trains Wales, which leases Shrewsbury’s station, has previously said it recognised its responsibilities in maintaining the station. It has also said the direct service it wants to introduce would complement Wrexham & Shropshire’s without impacting on its business.

Network Rail has said it has invested a lot in improving Shrewsbury’s Station with more planned and it was not complacent.

By John Kirk