MP meets minister as plans for new Shrewsbury rail services remains on track

Momentum continues to build behind the campaign to introduce a direct rail service between  Shrewsbury and London, a route that would reconnect key towns across Shropshire with the  capital, as a decision is expected imminently. 

Julia Buckley put the case directly to the Prime  Minister during Prime Minister’s Questions last month. 

The Prime Minister responded  positively, promising to arrange a meeting between Buckley and the Rail Minister, Lord  Hendy, to discuss the plans in detail, a meeting which has now taken place. 

Mrs Buckley, who assembled a cross-party group of neighbouring MPs to join her at the meeting,  including North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan, again reiterated her support for the  application highlighting that the campaign had moved beyond party politics. 

"I felt it was important to make sure a wide range of voices were heard," said Mrs Buckley.  "This line will benefit all constituencies along the proposed route and I believe a non party political coalition of support will help make that happen.  

Buckley has been instrumental in rallying support for the proposal, coordinating more than 15  MPs along the route. 

Those now backing the plans include Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard, North  Shropshire’s Helen Morgan and, most recently, Telford’s Labour MP Shaun Davies. She has also worked closely with and secured the support of Shrewsbury Town Council and  Shropshire Council, the Shrewsbury Business Improvement District, the Chamber of  Commerce, and the Minister for Transport. 

She has also engaged directly with hundreds of  residents who have now submitted representations to the Office of Rail and Road, the  independent regulator responsible for the final decision.  

The MP added: "This is not about politics for me, it is about delivering for the residents of  Shrewsbury."

While Network Rail remains the chief objector to the bid, citing concerns about timetabling  and traffic pressures on the West Coast Mainline, scrutiny is now growing over some of the  other objections included within their final submission. One such example involved safety concerns at the Chirk level crossing where, following a letter organised by Buckley and  cosigned by a number of other MPs, Network Rail subsequently committed to delivering the  necessary improvements by December of this year. 

The meeting with Lord Hendy was described by attendees as positive and productive, with  ministers showing a clear interest in the case being made by the MPs who sit along the  proposed route who say its implementation is essential to unlocking economic growth.