Reopening Oswestry railway line 'vital for future prosperity'
Labour's Shadow Transport Minister says the party would reconnect Oswestry to the mainline rail network if voted into power.
Ahead of this month's North Shropshire by-election, Tan Dhesi visited the town to see for himself the railway line closed during the Beeching cuts of the 1960s.
Labour's candidate in the contest, Ben Wood, says reopening the line and improving bus transport links is essential to the constituency.
Ben has been working as a transport advisor for the Labour Party at Westminster, looking at transport issues across Britain.
Mr Dhesi said: "North Shropshire's candidate has the expertise to ensure that the rail link can be restored. The Government is promising only a feasibility study into its restoration."
"Public transport is vital for future prosperity."
Mr Wood said that, having been born and brought up in Oswestry, he knew how important public transport links were for the area.
"Growing up here young people always had to rely on lifts to the railway station in Gobowen. When I was looking for a job I realised that I would have to find one in Oswestry because of the lack of public transport," he said.
"My local plan to connect Oswestry with the mainline would bring much-needed fresh new opportunities and jobs to the town. I’m really pleased to have the support of Labour’s Shadow Rail Minister."
The campaign was supported on Saturday by Labour's Shadow Minister for Business and International Relations, Bill Esterson, who was also in Oswestry.
He said: "In Liverpool the city is promoting integrated travel, ensuring bus and rail timetables link together."
