Shropshire wins fight for London rail link

Shropshire has ‘won the argument’ on the need for a new direct rail link between the county and London, county MP Owen Paterson claimed today.

The North Shropshire MP and newly-appointed cabinet minister said he was delighted both Virgin and FirstGroup had agreed to provide such a service should they end up with the hotly-disputed West Coast main line franchise.

His comments follow a meeting in London between Virgin bosses and MPs arranged by Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski after the company launched a legal challenge to FirstGroup being handed the contract.

Virgin said it would be looking to run up to three services a day between the county and London – with trains travelling through Gobowen and Chirk on the way to Wrexham.

FirstGroup bosses have previously said they intend to run five trains a day on the service between Shropshire and London from 2016.

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Mr Paterson said today: “It was very interesting that our campaign had worked with Virgin as well.

“I’m very pleased that both are including Shropshire.

“We have already won the argument – whatever happens we are going to get services to Shropshire.”

Mr Kawczynski, who has previously criticised Virgin’s decision to launch a legal challenge against the decision, said all interested parties would now have to wait.

“I along with everybody else will have to wait to see what the judge says. Legal experts will have to assess whether it was done in a fair way,” he said.

He added that he would now be seeking a personal meeting with Sir Richard Branson on Monday to discuss the county’s need for a direct rail link to the capital.

Sir Richard will be speaking at a hearing of the House of Commons transport committee next Monday, with MPs also taking evidence from Tim O’Toole, the chief executive of transport company FirstGroup.

Tony Collins, chief executive of Virgin Trains, said: “We really appreciate the effort Mr Kawczynski put in to ensure an open debate with MPs on some very important issues.