Shropshire rail electrification hope as £38 billion plans revealed

Though the Department of Transport says there are no definitive plans, it says it is planning to invest more than £38 billion to modernise the country's railways.

The plans will follow the completion of the controversial high-speed HS2 line, which the DoT says will be the "backbone" of the country's rail system and have a beneficial knock-on effects for the rest of the country – potentially including Shropshire, which has long campaigned for the electrification of the line between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury.

Business leaders have already hailed the move, saying it will help as the country runs an ongoing drive to attract more businesses to chose Shropshire as a place to work.

Robert Cooper, a Department for Transport spokesman, said that while there were currently no definitive plans for an electrification of the line in Shropshire, HS2 was likely to have a number of benefits for the local rail network.

He said: "HS2 will become the backbone of our national rail network and help us build an economy that works for all.

"We are also delivering the biggest rail modernisation programme for over a century, investing more than £38 billion.

"Network Rail are currently considering what upgrades the government should deliver from 2019 onwards and we expect them to present their advice to us next year."

It comes after it was revealed that Stafford railway station will become an 'HS2 hub' offering a link with the £55.7 billion track for neighbouring Shropshire. There are also suggestions that the county's line could be extended to create a direct line straight to Stafford.

And Sir David Higgins, the chairman of HS2 Ltd has said it will open up more than just a high speed line. He said HS2 is already helping to "supercharge" development in Stafford and those benefits will extend even further.

He said: "Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region are already enjoying the benefits of HS2.

"Through the largest devolution deal to date, the West Midlands Combined Authority has been given responsibility for an investment package worth more than £4bn to deliver the Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy with the potential to add £14bn to the economy and create and support 100,000 jobs."

And Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire councils are likely to be able to have a bite at the cherry, as they are non-constituent members of the combined authority.

Sir David added: "The Government has underlined its commitment to seeing the Midlands as a whole develop by announcing a £12m three-year funding deal to help the Midland Connect transport partnership maximise the economic potential that HS2 will release in the region."