Journey's end for Wrexham and Shrewsbury railway

Devastated staff from Wrexham and Shropshire broke down in tears as they prepared to leave on the company's last train service from London back to the county.

See also: Tears as Wrexham & Shrewsbury service bows out

In emotional scenes on the platform at London's Marylebone Station last night most of the 55-strong team comforted each other before the journey.

The train arrived in Shropshire just after 10pm as it was revealed more than 2,700 people have signed a petition in a bid to try to save the county's direct rail-link to London.

The county has been left without a direct line to the capital after Wrexham & Shropshire announced this week it was closing it yesterday after it made a loss of nearly £3 million last year.

An online petition to save the service and ask the Government to look into the situation immediately had been signed by 2,779 people by today. Organisers hope to get 5,000 signatures.

A campaign has also been launched by MPs and Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin councils in a bid to save the link and try to get it included in the West Coast Mainline franchise when it is re-tendered in the near future.

Telford MP David Wright has raised the issue in Parliament and Minister of State for Transport Theresa Villiers has agreed to meet MPs over the issue

Mr Wright today said he hoped MPs could meet the Transport Minister soon.

He said: "I am hoping we can get to see the minister in the next few days – and this will be an effort among all the MPs along the line.

"I think we want to have a general discussion why the Wrexham-Shropshire service failed. I think there are lessons to be learned."