Direct Shropshire railway link to London 'closer'

Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski met rail officials in the capital on Thursday in a bid to keep pressure up over efforts to restore the train line.

And Mr Kawczynski welcomed an announcement by the company which operates Britain's rail infrastructure that it plans to electrify the West Coast Main Line.

Work has already started in the North West and the aim is to roll out the scheme to include the West Coast Main Line.

The Tory MP said the project would mean faster, greener, quieter and more reliable journeys for thousands of passengers and urged the Government to provide additional funding so that Shropshire benefits from the rollout.

Mr Kawczynski said: "This direct rail link has the support of all Shropshire MPs and that of the transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, all of whom recognise the benefits that it will bring to Shrewsbury, Shropshire and further afield.

"I keep asking why must Shrewsbury be the only county town that does not have a direct link into our capital city.

"I think we are getting closer, but I will continue to keep up the pressure both with my colleagues in Westminster and officials within the rail industry until we achieve our goal."

He added: "The electrifying of these railway routes is good news for those that rely on the network. I intend to write to the transport secretary giving my support for the scheme and to request that additional government funding be awarded to Network Rail so that Shropshire can benefit.

"I will also be approaching my colleagues at Shropshire Chamber of Commerce to ask that they too endorse the proposals."

The last direct service to London folded three years ago after big losses by the Wrexham Shropshire Railway Company.

But rail experts believe the route could be reinstalled by May, following a Shropshire Star petition presented to Parliament which called on the Government to make the line a reality.