Shropshire to London rail link bid taken to the Commons

The Shropshire Star's petition - with more than 3,000 signatures - was presented to Parliament by Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski who called on the Government to put pressure on Network Rail to make linking London with Shrewsbury, Telford and Wellington a reality.

Daniel Kawczynski made the case that Shrewsbury is the only county town that has no direct link to the capital.

In the House of Commons yesterday evening he said: "I should like to present a petition to the House that has been ably worked on by the Shropshire Star and its editor, Mr Martin Wright.

"We have gathered more than 3,000 signatures on the importance of a direct service between Shrewsbury and London, our capital city.

"Shrewsbury is the only county town in England without a direct train service to London." He said that the lack of the direct rail link "is of real detriment to businesses and individuals travelling to the capital".

Mr Kawczynski added that the petitioners request that the House of Commons urge the Department of Transport and Office for Rail regulation to work with Network Rail and the train operators to improve services and subsequently ensure a regular and direct service from Shrewsbury to London to be established as soon as possible.

Earlier this week rail bosses pledged to join the fight for a direct service. The Office of Rail Regulation said it will be putting pressure on Network Rail to make the necessary improvements to the West Coast Main Line to allow the route to become a reality.

Leading officials from the ORR were presented with the Shropshire Star's petition when they met with county MPs in London.

The meeting was attended by Mr Kawczynski and Telford's Labour MP David Wright.

The rest of the MPs in Shropshire and Mid Wales have previously given their support to the petition and the idea of getting the link back up and running.

Shropshire remains the only county without a direct rail link to the capital after the Wrexham & Shropshire service was axed in 2011. Virgin Trains is now hoping to get the direct link up and running by May next year.