Shropshire-to-London train service figures soar

Passenger numbers have jumped in the service's second year, figures released today reveal.

Exactly two years after the first Virgin service left Shrewsbury for the capital on December 14, 2014, the train operator has revealed that 93,000 people have climbed on board in the last 12 months.

That reflects an increase on the 87,000 – a figure revised up from 80,000 since the first assessment of the figures a year ago – who used the trains in their first year of service.

Passengers travelling from Wellington and Telford have shown a particular enthusiasm for using the direct route to the capital, Virgin added.

"Our direct service from Shropshire to London is now very much part of our operations," said Natasha Grice, general manager of Virgin Trains.

"We were overwhelmed by the reaction in the first year, something we've been able to build on in the past twelve months, investing in a number of initiatives to help improve the customer experience.

"We look forward to continuing to develop the service and place on record our thanks for the support we have received."

In two years, services from the county to London have clocked up 420,000 miles of service – the equivalent of 4,049 a week.

The trains, which run twice a day in each direction, cover 623 miles a day between Monday and Saturday, and 311 miles every Sunday.

Of the 180,000 people who have used the service in total since its launch – which was the result of a long campaign spearheaded by the Shropshire Star, politicians, and local businesspeople – 102,000 have done so with tickets bought in advance.

The current West Coast Main Line franchise, of which the Shrewsbury to London service is a part, runs until March 2018. The next one will involve a partnership with the new HS2 service.

When the next franchise comes around, that will represent an opportunity to look in detail at the timetable.

Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski added: "It is fantastic news that the Virgin Trains direct service that we all fought so hard to gain has cemented its position as a success.

"I will be working with my colleagues over the coming months to try and persuade the Secretary of State for Transport to extend at least one of the services up to Gobowen and Wrexham."