Shropshire to London rail link is up and running

The Virgin Trains service starts out on its daily run to the capital today after it launched in Shrewsbury yesterday.

Hundreds have already flocked to the capital since The Wrekin Giant – as named by Shropshire Star reader Toni Williams – made its first trip at 3.24pm yesterday.

The London link which is the result of a hard-fought campaign backed by the Shropshire Star, stopped at Telford and Wellington before arriving at London Euston.

Virgin Trains boss Sir Richard Branson released a video in which he said he could not be more excited to introduce a new audience to all Shropshire had to offer.

He said it would not have been possible without the 3,000 people who signed the Shropshire Star's petition to get the service reinstated, which was presented in Parliament by Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski.

Sir Richard said: "Our new daily services from Shropshire to and from London Euston are up and running and I couldn't be more excited.

"So welcome Shrewsbury, Telford and Wellington, you are truly on the Virgin Trains map. A big thank you to all of you who got behind our campaign.

"A special thanks to Toni Williams for suggesting The Wrekin Giant."

And the news that the campaign had been successful was hailed as a boost for business and tourism in the county.

Scores of passengers lined platform five at Shrewsbury station yestrday to take the first London-bound train in more than four years.

Virgin Trains' first service also called at Wellington, Telford Central and Wolverhampton on its way to London Euston.

The last direct service to London by the Wrexham Shropshire Railway Company closed after running-up a loss of nearly £3 million in its final year of operation.

The axing of the former link to London has cost the county millions of pounds in trade and lost investment.

The petition launched by the Shropshire Star was presented in Parliament by Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski in a bid to get the service reinstated.

And rail enthusiasts yesterday joined passengers to see a little piece of history as the new service, which was officially named The Wrekin Giant by Shropshire Star readers, left Shrewsbury railway station at 3.49pm.

Jack Newell, 18, an assistant service user, from Telford, said: "This is a part of history. I thought getting this line back again would be impossible but I'm glad it's here now."

Steve Brown, 29, from Wellington, who works part time in a bowling alley, said: "The previous service did not include Wellington so I'd have to get on and off trains.

"Staff on the Wrexham train were very friendly so I was upset when that line closed.

"I'm glad Virgin came to the rescue because the other service, even to places like Wolverhampton, was too overcrowded.

"There were times I had to get off the train because I felt so cramped and sick.

"I came down to try and the new service out because it's a piece of history and I've been impressed by it.

"I think it will take off if because we all want a decent service."

Factory worker Gwyn Robinson, 34, from Wellington, said it was about time the area had a direct train link to London again.

"It's great the service travels from places like Wellington as well as Shrewsbury, because more people will think about travelling on a direct rail link," he said.

"It's great Virgin has taken it on and although a lot people had doubts about it I think that's just negative thinking because we should give it a chance.

"It's the same with any other service."

Father and son, Mike and Andrew Richards, came up from Wolverhampton specially to see the first service leave Shrewsbury.

Mike, 61, who works as a production manager, said: "We are both railway enthusiasts and I can remember when the regional Shrewsbury trains used to change at Wolverhampton.

"We thought it was important to come and see the first one. I did for the last one when it was all locomotives and coaches.

"I'm really pleased this service has come back because I didn't think I would ever see it again in my lifetime.

"I am a bit concerned about how long it will last because I can't see it running for more than two years if it's not well supported."

Quarry manager Andrew, 33, said it would also bring more people to Shrewsbury.

He said: "You'll have people coming up from London and from around the world to see this beautiful part of the county."

Richard Stanton, of Virgin Trains, said it was an exciting time for everyone involved.

He said: "It's perhaps been a long time coming but we've had overwhelming support from the public.

"It's great we've got this train up and running again and now the next job is get people on board. It will be great for getting people into London but it will also bring plenty of people here to Shropshire."