Name that train - for first Shropshire direct service to London

The Star led a London Link Campaign, calling for the setting up of a direct service between our county and London. It was supported by thousands of readers through a petition and was also backed by business and politicians in the region.

Virgin Trains will launch its first service from Shrewsbury to London in December, calling at Telford and Wellington on the way. And here's your chance to have your suggestion for the nameplate on the Virgin Super Voyager.

The new train will run after the Office of Rail Regulation gave the go-ahead for a daily return service. The first train will leave Shrewsbury with a special service at 3.49pm on December 14 – and the naming ceremony will take place a day later.

The service's normal timetable will be two services in each direction on a weekday, departing Shrewsbury at 6.39am and 3.24pm, with arrival times in Euston at 9.15am and 5.56pm. The services will call at Telford, Wellington, Wolverhampton, Birmingham New Street, Birmingham International, Coventry and Rugby.

Services back to Shropshire leave Euston at 10.23am and 6.23pm, arriving in Shrewsbury at 12.58pm and 8.55pm respectively.

A petition for the service was led by the Shropshire Star and was presented in Parliament. Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski also raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions.

Richard Stanton, of Virgin Trains, said: "This is a way of rewarding Shropshire Star readers for signing the petition. It is a way of saying thank you and it is a money-can't-buy experience.

"It is a very exciting time for everyone involved."

Star editor Martin Wright said: "We received a huge amount of support for our campaign to reinstate a direct link to London, so I am delighted that Virgin Trains have very kindly given our readers the chance to name the train. It is certainly an exciting prospect and I look forward to reading through the entries."

Name nominations will close on Thursday, October 30. The best five will be shortlisted by a panel of judges the following day and a final shortlist will be announced in the Shropshire Star on November 3, then the public will vote for their favourite.

Prizes will be on offer for those who are shortlisted.

How to enter:

The name suggestion should be a maximum of 25 characters and a minimum of 10. It must have a link to Shropshire. Entrants must be available on December 15 to be involved in the naming event. Entrants must be able to help with publicity events. MNA and Virgin Trains employees and their families are excluded from entering.

• Email newsroom@shropshirestar.co.uk with the subject title ‘Name the Train’

• Tweet your suggestion @ShropshireStar with the hashtag #nametrain

• Leave suggestions on the Star’s Facebook page

• Post it to Name the Train, Newsdesk, Shropshire Star, Waterloo Road, Ketley, Telford TF1 5HU with your full name and address