Campaigners delighted at Shifnal rail link success

The first non-stop early morning express service from Shifnal to Wolverhampton in more than 150 years was launched on December 14 following a campaign by people in the area.

Shifnal Forward Transport Group lobbied rail companies and the Department of Transport to introduce the new service and their efforts are now paying off, with more than 30 people catching the train every morning.

David Curtis, of Shifnal Forward, said he knew there was a demand for an extra non-stop service to Wolverhampton as there was a gap between trains of almost 90 minutes in the early morning, during which three fast trains rushed through Shifnal station. "It was extremely frustrating for passengers as we had to wait for a later train which was always overcrowded and slow with numerous stops along the way," he said.

"We approached Arriva Trains Wales, Virgin, and London Midland, asking them to stop one of the fast trains, even suggesting how they could do it and demonstrating the significant demand from our findings.

"London Midland came up trumps and agreed to launch the new service which is the first non-stop Shifnal to Wolverhampton train since 1849."

The new service arrives in Wolverhampton at 7.30am, 33 minutes before the next train to the city, and reaches Birmingham before 8am. Mr Curtis added that passengers heading for London could change at Birmingham and arrive in the capital by 9.30am, just two hours 17 minutes from Shifnal.

He added: "We are delighted with the reception the service has received.

"Working as a community, we identified the need and have achieved a much-improved service for a growing number of passengers."

The group is now also campaigning to improve the area around the station entrance including the installation of a new driveway, six cycle racks, CCTV and an information board. The group said new housing developments were expected to increase the population of Shifnal by 4,000 over the coming years.