Campaigners' delight at rail link start date

The announcement that Shropshire's rail link to the capital will be up and running before the end of the month has been described as the "best news in a decade" for the county's travelling community.

It was announced yesterday that operator Wrexham & Shropshire's new direct train service to London will start on April 28.

The service will offer passengers five trains a day in each direction between stations from Wrexham, through Shropshire and on to London Marylebone.

And Mansel Williams, chairman of the Shrewsbury to Chester railway liaison committee, the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth railway liaison committee and the Shrewsbury to Swansea rail forum, today welcomed the news.

He said: "I think it is the best news that the Shropshire and Shrewsbury travelling community have had for a decade. This is to be welcomed on economic and social grounds.

"It will also make Shropshire accessible from the south east which will benefit our communities. As chairman of a number of railway liaison committees I wholly welcome this open access initiative and wish them well as they develop the service."Mr Williams's comments come as the company unveiled the new-look carriages people from Shropshire will be travelling to London in this summer.

The refurbished trains will offer passengers a modern, comfortable travelling environment once completed this summer.

Between April 28 and when the new trains are ready, to allow leisure and business travellers to take advantage of the new service as soon as possible, the company is hiring trains for use for the first few months of operation.

Wrexham & Shropshire managing director Andy Hamilton said: "We've had tremendous support for our new rail service and have been working non-stop to get ready for the launch.

"I'm sure people will support our decision to use good quality hire trains until our own ones are ready - especially as it means we can launch the service earlier."

Wrexham & Shropshire will announce details of its range of value-for-money fares - and how and where people can buy tickets - in the next couple of weeks.