First trip for Wrekin Giant as Shrewsbury's rail link to London begins
Shropshire's eagerly awaited direct rail link with London launched today, as Sir Richard Branson thanked those who backed the campaign to get the service going.
The Wrekin Giant - as named by Shropshire Star reader Toni Williams – made its first trip, departing from Shrewsbury at 3.24pm.
The London link, which is the result of a hard-fought campaign, stops at Telford and Wellington before arriving at London Euston.
The axing of a former link to London cost the region millions of pounds in trade and lost investment.
And the news that the campaign had been successful was hailed as a boost for business and tourism in the county.
The Shropshire Star teamed up with Virgin Trains to offer readers the chance to the name the train which made the inaugural journey.
The winning suggestion, The Wrekin Giant, was then made into a train nameplate, which will be unveiled at a naming ceremony tomorrow.
The normal timetable will be two services in each direction on a weekday, departing Shrewsbury at 6.39am and 3.24pm, with arrival in Euston at 9.15am and 5.56pm.
It will call at Telford, Wellington, Wolverhampton, Birmingham New Street, Birmingham International, Coventry and Rugby.
Services back to Shropshire leave Euston at 10.23am and 6.23pm, arriving in Shrewsbury at 12.58pm and 8.55pm . The Super Voyager train will eventually travel the route at speeds of up to 125mph.
