Joy and questions over London rail link plans
Campaigners were today celebrating after rail bosses pledged to bring in new direct services between Shropshire and London – but have questioned why the county will have to wait four years for the connection.
Campaigners were today celebrating after rail bosses pledged to bring in new direct services between Shropshire and London – but have questioned why the county will have to wait four years for the connection.
It comes as Sir Richard Branson said Virgin would be 'unlikely to bid again' for another rail franchise after losing out to FirstGroup for the West Coast route in a decision announced by Theresa Villiers this morning.
The route, to be introduced in 2016, will go from London through to Telford Central and then Shrewsbury.
Shropshire to get direct rail link to London
Mandy Thorn, chairman of the Shropshire Business Board, said: "On the face of it, it is really good news for Shropshire.
"What I'm disappointed about is it seems as if we will have to wait until 2016.
"We have a business case for a direct link to London, so why do we have to wait? We should try and get the new franchise holders to speed up the link before 2016."
North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson said he was pleased at FirstGroup's commitment, but disappointed the direct link to Shropshire would only be going as far as Shrewsbury.
"My initial reaction is it is good news it is going to Shrewsbury but the MPs group did tell the potential operators we wanted it to go to Telford, Shrewsbury, Gobowen, Wrexham and Chester," he said.
"But it is good news they have listened to us as far as Shrewsbury."
Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, said the new direct link would help attract investment into Shropshire.
"It is really good news we are going to get it, but it is just a shame it is going to take four years," he said.
Councillor Shaun Davies, for the Malinslee Ward in Telford, welcomed the news that Shropshire was to benefit from a direct rail link to the capital - but raised concerns about the time frame.
He said: "I'm totally for the decision. This rail link is long overdue and it is great news for Telford that we will have a direct rail link to London. "I do have concerns about the wait until 2016 and also concerns around the viability of the franchise.
"I am sure councillors in Telford will join with the MP and will work together to try and get the timings on the rail link pushed forward.
"2016 does seem like a long way away."
Sir Richard said he was deeply disappointed Virgin was losing the franchise, given passenger numbers have doubled on to route to 30 million since the company took over the route in 1997.
Sir Richard added: "Based on the current flawed system, it is extremely unlikely that we would bid again for a franchise."
And he said that this was the fourth time Virgin had been outbid in a franchise tender process. He went on: "On the past three occasions, the winning operator has come nowhere close to delivering their promised plans and revenue, and has let the public and country down dramatically
"GNER and National Express over promised in order to win the franchise and spectacularly ran into financial difficulties in trying to deliver their plans.
"The East Coast is still in Government ownership and its service is outdated and underinvested, costing passengers and the country dearly as a result.
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. When will the Department for Transport learn?"
FirstGroup will take over the West Coast line on December 9, with the franchise running for 13 years and four months.
The DfT said the franchise deal was worth £5.5 billion over the lifetime of the contract.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "FirstGroup and the Government should be left in no doubt that we will mount a massive industrial, political and public campaign to stop any attacks on our members' jobs and the services that they provide to the travelling public as a result of this franchise award.
"We are already preparing a ballot for industrial action in light of the threatened job cuts."
He added that the franchise was being let "with a gold-plated, extended contract linked to massive cuts to jobs and passenger services and huge increases in fares as the winning FirstGroup looks to extract every penny that they can in profit".
