Letter: Best chance of developing Shropshire to London rail link

Letter: Rail passengers, businesses and tourist facilities only have until August 17, to write to the Department for Transport to make their views known regarding the specifications for the new West Coast Rail franchise, which will commence in December 2012.

This is the only opportunity for the passengers of the Wellington and Telford area to get a new direct rail service to London. I believe this is an urgent requirement to support economic and tourism development in our area, as Shropshire is now the only county in England without a direct rail link to London.

Poor public transport in this region is a major deterrent to business relocating here and to tourists.

I believe everyone interested in this issue should write to the DfT stating we need a direct rail service from Shropshire to London calling at Wellington and Telford stations and that it needs to be specified in the new franchise document.

The address to write to is: Inter City West Coast Franchise Consultation Manager Department for Transport, Zone 5/26, Great Minster Street, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR, or e-mail: intercitywestcoast@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Bill Jones

Wellington