Portillo joins battle for Shropshire direct rail link to London

Speaking before his show at Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn, he said it was vital to the county's economy and was something passengers were longing for.

Mr Portillo appeared as Shropshire MPs met with rail officials from Virgin, where it was revealed a twice-daily service to the capital could be launched in December.

During yesterday's journey into the town, Mr Portillo said he had actually been speaking to a fellow rail passenger about the potential plans for a direct rail link.

"There aren't many county towns that don't have a direct rail link to London," he said. "I think it would be of huge benefit and it is important."

Mr Portillo, who is now almost as famous for his series on Great British Railway Journeys as he is for his political career actually arrived for the show on train.

He said: "I came from Euston to Shrewsbury via Crewe. I have been to Shrewsbury a number of times, in fact the last time I was here I was filming for my Great British Railway series.

"I think Shrewsbury is rather beautiful. The station is rather beautiful and it is fantastic set by the castle. It is rather attractively set by the River Severn."

Mr Portillo actually visited Shrewsbury during the second season of his television series, which is now on to series five, with series six in the making.

Cross party MPs from across the county met officials from Virgin and Network Rail yesterday to discuss the continuing efforts to get in place a direct link between the county and the capital.

Hopes were derailed in January when Virgin announced it would not be launching in a new service this summer as it would not be "economically viable".

But it is hoped a new timetable with improved times can be brought in this December.

More than 3,000 people signed a Shropshire Star petition on the issue and passengers and business leaders are united in supporting the need for a direct rail link to London, linking Eusotn station with Shrewsbury, Telford and Wellington.

Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski said the parties had agreed in principle to the introduction of a daily service, subject to approval from the Office of Rail Regulation.

He said it is intended trains would leave Shrewsbury at 6.39am and 3.24pm each day, with services going from London to Shropshire at 10.23am and 6.23pm.

Mr Kawczynski said he was "hopeful" now Virgin Trains and Network Rail are both in agreement .

"This is very good news for Shrewsbury and I am delighted. It is going to be very, very important for business investment in Shrewsbury and tourism," he said.

"Virgin said this stacks up from a business perspective and that is what makes me confident it will be a success."

Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard said: "The meeting was positive and constructive."

Mr Pritchard will be chairing a meeting of Shropshire MPs in the next fortnight with the Office of Rail Regulation, which will have the final say on the link.

A statement released earlier in the day by Virgin Trains

said: "Virgin Trains and Network Rail have been working together to look at ways of providing an attractive daily service linking Shropshire with London to start in December 2014.

A further announcement will be made once more details are available."