Shropshire Star

Bid to restore Shrewsbury rail link to London under scrutiny

The bid to restore Shrewsbury's direct rail link to London will come under the microscope when councillors discuss the issue at a meeting tonight.

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The bid to restore Shrewsbury's direct rail link to London will come under the microscope when councillors discuss the issue at a meeting tonight.

Members of Shrewsbury Town Council will hold discussions about the restoration of the direct rail link to the capital city when they meet at the Guildhall tonight at 6pm and discuss what they can do to help this happen.

Councillors are set to discuss what measures to take to encourage rail firms to bring the route back into operation.

Last month, North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson and Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow met with Richard Parry, managing director of First Group, to discuss the possibility of restoring a twice daily direct rail service from the county to London.

It follows talks with the other bidders for the West Coast Main Line train franchise.

Four companies are vying for the West Coast Main Line train franchise, due to be launched by December 9, and campaigners and business leaders hope it will include the direct link.

The preferred bidders are First Group, Virgin Trains, Abellio and Keolis.

At tonight's meeting, councillors will receive information on the work of the Strategic Rail Partnership and consider what they might do to encourage bidders.

The county town has not had a direct link since the Wrexham & Shropshire rail company stopped its service in January last year. It was halted when the firm posted losses of £2.9 million alone in 2010 and its closure led to the axing of about 55 jobs.

Shrewsbury Town Council leader councillor Peter Nutting said: "We definitely still need more major investment between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury as the current service is inadequate.

"Getting the direct rail link with the capital reestablished is the main goal," he said.

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