Shropshire Star

Letter: Single station change no big deal in rail route to the capital

Some people are never satisfied! (Letter Shropshire Star, July 8) "Bad Timing For Trains".

Published

Why does Janet Phillips of the Green Party and others need to travel 27.25 miles north from Ludlow to Shrewsbury to catch a London train when they can travel 23.25 miles south to Hereford and catch a First Great Western direct service to London Paddington at 06.42am – standard return £84; first class return £193?

The same applies to Church Stretton and Craven Arms passengers. Why travel north to go south? Why should Arriva trains provide connections at Shrewsbury when services to London via Hereford are adequate?

Passengers demand a door-to-door service. They had one with the Wrexham and Shropshire service and failed to use it. Why should the proposed Virgin Trains service fare any better? The early service from Shrewsbury will carry a standard return fare of at least £212 and £320 first class. These fares being on demand on the day of travel.

Whilst an advance purchase ticket may be cheaper – but very limited – only an "off-peak" ticket will be much cheaper and not valid on the 06.39 train. Business travellers with expense accounts will be the main users on this service. Why should the ordinary passenger pay £212 when they were not keen on paying just £110 with Wrexham and Shropshire? I give this service 12 months when (and if) it commences!

Why the average passenger cannot deal with a simple platform change at Wolverhampton or Birmingham beggars belief.

If one is prepared to change trains (once) then there is an hourly service to London – even more frequent at certain times!

I am disabled with a lung disease but always cope well with one change – without any assistance. Some passengers are lazy or simply "bone idle" and believe that the rail network owes them a living.

My advice to passengers is "man up" – "smell the coffee" and get used to changing trains (once!) – you will be doing it when this proposed direct service is withdrawn due to lack of patronage.

J D Taylor, Telford

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