200 people sign petition calling for the reopening of railway lines linking Shrewsbury and Stafford
A second petition which was launched calling for the reopening of railway lines linking Shrewsbury to Stafford has now been signed by 200 people.
The online petition was set up last month by Taylor Lewis, of Stafford, who says it will save commuters having to travel via Wolverhampton and Crewe.
It comes after a similar petition was launched earlier this year by Oliver Ashton, who said it took him an hour and a half to get to a job interview in Cannock.
He said the journey would take just 43 minutes, if the former line was reinstated.
That petition, which called for a new Shrewsbury to Walsall service, calling at Wellington, Newport, Stafford and Rugeley, has been signed by more than 270 people.
Mr Lewis' petition will be delivered to both Shropshire Council and Staffordshire County Council, as well as Transport Minister Chris Grayling and Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy.
Dozens of people have also left comments online.
Phil Mciver, of Telford, wrote: "A viable rail link as 90 per cent of the trackbed is still easily useable.
"Creates a link between two towns and an extra diversionary route for when other lines are closed."
Mike Crump, from Wolverhampton, said: "It will provide Shropshire with a faster route to London and HS2 via Stafford avoiding the congested and slow route via the West Midlands."
Others have said it will be great for tourist trade and will help reduce traffic congestion.
Mandie Howard, of Stafford, said: "This could potentially take a lot of traffic from the roads, make it greener and faster to travel comfortably."
Nicholas Smith, of Telford, added: "It's a good idea and be a lot quicker than going via Shrewsbury or Wolverhampton to get to Stafford or even London going that way from Wellington."
It comes after it was announced in October that Stafford railway station will become an "HS2 hub" linking Staffordshire and Shropshire to the super-fast network.
It was also claimed the move could have a knock-on effect on the surrounding network, with plans to electrify the line between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton and further proposals to extend that route directly to the new hub in Stafford.
The new railway link from Stafford could connect our region to London Euston in just 53 minutes.
The plans were last looked at in 2011, when Shropshire, Telford and the Marches Strategic Rail Group put together £230 million plans to reopen the Telford to Stafford train line.
To sign the new petition, visit https://www.change.org/p/staffordshire-county-council-reopening-the-old-railway-line-from-stafford-to-shrewsbury
