Baschurch railway station to reopen in 2012?

Campaigners behind ambitious plans to reopen a once-thriving north Shropshire railway station, which closed 50 years ago, hope to see it completed by the end of 2012.

They hope Baschurch Railway Station, which closed in 1960, will be brought back to life to serve the rapidly growing population in the area.

A new rail group will be formed by Shropshire Council and campaigners hope the scheme will take a major step forward.

Councillor Mansel Williams, of Shropshire Council, said: "The rail group will be made up of representatives from Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin to begin with and then maybe extend to Herefordshire and Cheshire further down the line.

"The people behind the reopening of Baschurch station have put together a really strong case."

Steve Boulding, spokes- man for the Baschurch Station Group, said: "This is a very important project which we really want to start pushing ahead with.

"We are trying to make it a number one priority for rail schemes across the county and are seeking all parties concerned to agree that it should go ahead.

"If we can get everybody to agree by the end of 2011, it should only take up to a year for it to be complete, so we are looking at the end of 2012."

A feasibility study carried out more than two years ago, as part of a wider probe into use of the Shrewsbury to Chester line, found there was no viable business case for opening a station at Baschurch.

But since then, the Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway Company has restored the county's direct rail link with London, meaning direct services now pass through Baschurch on a daily basis.