Councils and business leaders welcome Virgin Trains proposal
The announcement by Virgin Trains of its intention for a direct service from Shrewsbury to London which would stop at Wellington, Telford, Stafford and Rugby has been welcomed by Telford & Wrekin Council, Shropshire Council and local business leaders.
The proposals to be put forward to the Department for Transport would see two services depart from Shrewsbury at 7.06am and 3.06pm Monday to Saturday and would take 2hours 12 minutes.
Return trains would be timed to leave London Euston at 11.33am and 6.37pm. On Sundays there would only be the afternoon departure.
The proposal being put forward by Virgin Trains is an application only and over the next two months will be considered by the Department for Transport and Network Rail, it must also be approved by the Office of Rail Regulation. Without the approval of the Office of Rail Regulation, the proposed service would not be able to go ahead.
If approved, services could start from December 2013.
On Friday 1 February 2013 representatives from Shropshire Council, Telford and Wrekin Council and Shropshire Business Chamber met with Virgin Trains’ Chief Operating Officer, Chris Gibb, and their Communications Director, Arthur Leathley, to discuss the proposal for a direct rail service to London from Shrewsbury and Telford, and vice versa.
Cllr Hilda Rhodes Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for transport and community protection, said: “Virgin’s proposals to establish direct rail services to Telford are extremely positive.
“I hope that if approved, the journey times will also be extended to include off peak times so that residents and businesses will be able to make the most of this fantastic new route.”
“We are delighted that proposals include both Wellington and Telford and if approved, would provide a welcomed new transport route that would help to boost our local economy. We are committed to working with the rail industry to help deliver this service”.
Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, warmly welcomes the proposal, saying:
“I am thrilled to hear Virgin Trains’ proposal. We are actively committed to smoothing out the transport links in and out of our county, as well as within it, and we hope the Department for Transport, Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation allow us to take this proposal from here to reality.”
Dr Geoffrey Davies, chairman of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which is a member of the Strategic Rail Group, today welcomed Virgin’s proposal:
“I’m delighted to see that Virgin has responded to our repeated pleas that a direct rail service from Shropshire to London be included in its proposals for the operation of the West Coast Franchise.
“If approved, this service from London Euston to Shrewsbury and vice versa would be a real boost not only to our visitor economy, but also for the businesses which are based here.
“Good transport links are essential to ensure we can attract businesses which want to invest in the Marches and create the sustainable jobs which are so urgently needed.”
Chairman of the Shropshire Telford Marches Strategic Rail Group (STMSRG), Mansel Williams, said:
“The STMSRG will be urgently writing to the Office of Rail Regulation to express the full support of the region’s councils and business chambers for the Virgin Trains application. We will continue to work with the rail industry to achieve our long term aim of a regular interval service being included in the West Coast Main Line Franchise in 2015.”
