High-speed rail link could connect Shropshire to London

A new £32 billion high-speed rail track between the West Midlands and London could see Shropshire's direct link to the capital restored, it was claimed this afternoon.

Campaigners say the massive project would open up the prospect of running trains direct from Shropshire to London even though the new line will not come to the county.

They say trains to the county could be diverted off the new HS2 line to Telford and Shrewsbury, giving faster journeys and reducing overcrowding.

Campaign group West Coast Rail 250 was giving its views to MPs on the Transport Select Committee which is investigating the pros and cons of the controversial project.

It says the old West Coast Mainline could be used to help restore services between London and Shropshire.

In a report to the committee, it said: "Even if London to North Wales services have to remain on the classic WCML until the North Wales Coast line is electrified, there should be some combination of reduced journey times, increased frequencies and a better range of through services for North Wales.

"It could also open up the prospect of through services being reintroduced between London and Shrewsbury via the classic WCML and Birmingham, maybe even onto the Cambrian line."

The group warned capacity on the existing WCML could be 'exhausted within six to 10 years' and rejected claims by anti-high speed rail campaigners that there was still much extra capacity to be provided on the existing WCML through a further major upgrade.

HS2 Action Alliance believes that passenger capacity can be increased by about 135 per cent by making better use of existing track. But Tony Page, campaign coordinator, said: "The West Coast Mainline is now very much a victim of its own success with major capacity problems.

"So we are very strong supporters and campaigners for the new high speed rail line, to provide extra capacity on the existing 'classic' line as well."

The first part of the line – from London to Birmingham – is due to be completed in 2026. A second Y-shaped section on to Manchester and Leeds and possibly further north could be finished around 2032-33.

It will bring 250mph trains to Britain and cut the journey time from Birmingham to London by 25 minutes.

Two new stations will be built in Birmingham, one in the city centre and another close to Birmingham Airport.