Support plans for rail service

I am writing to fully support the views of John Lloyd, Letters March 22, regarding the existing rail companies trying to block the plans of the Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway Co, to start through trains to London.

The defensive and negative attitude of Arriva Trains and Virgin Rail towards any sort of healthy competition is a depressing view of their contempt for rail passengers.

They should be encouraging a new operator who could increase the rail market and lead to a general improvement in the present very poor rail services in Shropshire.

However, the only way we are going to improve our rail services is if we all actively lobby the interested parties to do something.

There are a number of ways of influencing policy and attitudes. Could I suggest that everyone who wants a through rail service to London writes or e-mails the rail regulator to show that the proposals of the WSMR have a lot of local community and business support.

The rail regulator is consulting on the new plans of the WSMR until the end of April 2007. It can be contacted at The Office of Rail Regulator, 1 Kemble Street, London WC2B 4AN (www.rail-reg.gov.uk,) and ordinary passengers need to influence the decision.

It would also be useful for people to e-mail the Wrexham rail company at www.wsmr.co.uk offering support and also to e-mail Wellington Town Council on http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wsmrdirectlink

Ian Jones, Wellington