New London rail timetable

Passengers using Shropshire's direct rail route to London will soon take advantage of improved journey plans after the company behind the service carried out a major overhaul of its timetable.

Following months of behind-the-scenes work from rail company Wrexham & Shropshire the new weekday timetable will be introduced next month to provide travel to and from the capital at convenient times.

The move comes after negotiations with other train operators, work with Network Rail to improve line speeds.

Bosses say all of this will come together in the new timetable, to be launched on October 5.

Thomas Ableman, Wrexham & Shropshire's marketing director, said: "We've listened to what our passengers have to say and have made a real effort to make changes to the timetable that will have a real impact.

"For those travelling back home after a day's business in London, the new timetable now includes a rush-hour train that gets you home at a more reasonable hour. Similarly, the 7.23am from Marylebone will make our region much more accessible from London and prove a boom for both businesses and the tourist sector."

While Wrexham & Shropshire is adding more trains at peak times, it retains its policy of not charging peak fares. As a result, the maximum standard class fare from Shrewsbury or Telford to London is £40 return.

Work is already under way to look at possible timetable changes to benefit passengers from December.

Customer Rod Plummer, managing director of Shrewsbury-based IT business Shoothill, said he was looking forward to the improved services.

He said: "I use Wrexham & Shropshire about two to three times a week for business, so news that there's going to be an earlier train back from London about 6.30pm is very welcome.

"It means that I can still have a full day's business in London but will get home a bit earlier. Also, if I'm staying overnight, I'll now be able to get back to Shrewsbury by just after 11am."

By Russell Roberts