County MEP says HS2 would kickstart Shropshire rail improvements
A revised HS2 link would create a 'domino effect' which would boost long-delayed plans to improve rail services in Shropshire, county MEP Phil Bennion told a meeting in Church Stretton.
The Lib Dem MEP was guest speaker at a joint meeting of Church Stretton Civic Society and the local rail users' group held on Friday November 1st in the Sylvester Horne Institute.
Answering questions from 40 members and residents, Phil Bennion, Lib Dem Transport Spokesman in the European Parliament, said lack of capacity was a key reason for Shropshire's 'Cinderella status' in rail investment.
He said: "Various plans for a Shrewsbury to London service have struggled because the West Coast Main Line is full up, especially south of Rugby. That is the main reason Virgin was turned down.
"This could all change if we get a revised HS2 scheme with proper connections in Birmingham, which I am lobbying ministers hard for.
"An improved HS2 would be a game-changer for the Midlands economy and Birmingham airport, but would also have a 'domino effect' to kickstart rail improvements elsewhere.
"Electrifying the line west of Wolverhampton would be a much more viable investment. Shrewsbury could have a much faster commuter service to Birmingham and regular Pendolinos to London on the existing main line, with a connection to HS2.
"The problem is the existing HS2 plan has a very expensive but separate station at Curzon Street in Birmingham, with passengers expected to walk the half a mile from New Street.
"I am seeking meetings with the new Tory and Lib Dem transport ministers to put the case for changes. There is no point spending £50 billion on super-fast trains if the connections are not thought through.
"In principle, I think we do need a new high speed line, but it must plug into the rest of the network."
As a member of the Transport Committee in the European Parliament, Phil said he was supporting the EU's 'Fourth Railway Package' for simpler and cheaper regulations for Europe's railways.
"A liberalised system of rail regulation and a single set of type approvals for all EU railways would make trains cheaper to build and run. The rail franchise system in the UK is now delivering big increases in passenger demand, despite a political decision - which I do not support - to increase fares. Ridership is up and employment on the railways is up too. If we can bring costs down, the shift to rail will accelerate.
"But Shropshire has not had the investment it deserves."
