Shropshire Star

Why Shropshire needs a direct rail link to London

Shropshire campaigners, politicians and business leaders say they are desperate for the reintroduction of a direct rail link between the county and London.

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Shropshire campaigners, politicians and business leaders say they are desperate for the reintroduction of a direct rail link between the county and London.

This week the Department of Transport is expected to announce who will take over the running of the West Coast Mainline – a decision that could pave the way for the reintroduction of a direct service.

Transport giants Main Line, Virgin, First Group, Abeillo, and Keolis have all put in bids to take over the route, which links London to Birmingham and Glasgow.

The contract will begin this December and run initially until March 2026, but could be extended for a further 20 months after that.

With the award of the lengthy contract offering hope of restoring a direct link between Shropshire and London, campaigners have been working hard to promote the county's case for a new London service.

County MPs have held a series of meetings with the rail contenders, as well as with Department of Transport chiefs. Officials from organisations such as Shropshire Council and Shropshire Chamber of Commerce have also attended talks in the past few months to put across their support for restoring the link.

It follows the demise of the Wrexham & Shropshire service in January last year after owners DB Schenker made a £2.8million loss.

Although popular with its regular passengers, the Wrexham & Shropshire service was hampered by the fact it could not run through Birmingham, meaning the journey took about three hours.

Mandy Thorn, chairman of the Shropshire Business Board, said a reinstated rail link was hugely important for the local economy and Shropshire's tourism industry.

"We are the only county that doesn't have a direct rail link to the capital. For tourism in particular, it is incredibly important," she said.

"It is a major frustration that we have got all these wonderful tourist attractions and yet you can't get to us on the train. For businesses, it is something people expect and they can't believe they can't get here directly.

"It does make people think about investing in the county. Good transport links are non-negotiable now for businesses."

She said that even if the link is not included in the winning bid for the franchise, the fight for the service will go on.

"We feel there is a strong business case. It will be incredibly disappointing if it is not included, but if it is not, it won't stop us continuing," she said.

A briefing document from the Department of Transport in January revealed that there had been a high number of calls for a new service to the capital during a public consultation.

According to the report, people wanted to see direct services from Shropshire to London, calling at Shrewsbury, Telford, Wrexham and Wellington, and an additional stop at Milton Keynes Central. Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski said huge efforts had been made to put across the county's case to decision-makers.

He said plans to greatly increase the number of homes in Shropshire in the next few years helped to back the argument that the connection is needed.

"We have left no stone unturned in trying to persuade them," the MP said.

"We are trying to explain to them that it will be commercially viable because Shrewsbury and Shropshire are growing.

Tim O'Brien, 59, from Wenlock Road in Shrewsbury, is one of the campaigners who has written to the Department of Transport on the issue.

He said the introduction of the service would make life easier for passengers in Shropshire, while also helping Shrewsbury's economy.

"Changing at Birmingham is a bit of a nightmare," he said.

See more reaction from local MPs and business leaders in today's Shropshire Star

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