Plans for direct Shropshire - London rail service turned down by regulator

Despite widespread local and political support, the ORR cited "insufficient capacity" on the West Coast Main Line as the reason for its decision.

The proposed Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway (WSMR) service, which aimed to run five direct trains a day to London, was seen as a crucial step towards boosting economic development, creating new jobs, and opening up opportunities for businesses and residents across the region.

Extremely disappointed

A spokesperson for Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway said: “We are extremely disappointed with the Office of Rail and Road’s decision to reject our application – the only current application to receive support from the Department for Transport.

"We have spent the past two years demonstrating that capacity and performance concerns can and would be negated by the industry working together to deliver a better railway for passengers. WSMR would have set new standards for how open access operators can and should work alongside nationalised rail services."

The WSMR spokesperson highlighted the "overwhelming support from local people, businesses, councillors and MPs, who all recognise the urgent need for this connectivity," since the application was submitted in March 2024. The company intends to "urgently seek to reengage with the ORR and determine our next steps regarding the future of this vital passenger service."

Fight on for new service

Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley, who has spearheaded the campaign, expressed her profound disappointment but vowed to fight on. Standing outside Shrewsbury's railway station, Ms Buckley stated, "Today I received the initial decision from the rail regulator on the Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway (WSMR) which proposed running five direct trains a day to London. Unfortunately, the regulator has decided not to approve the application at this stage. This is incredibly disappointing, especially given the significant amount of work that has gone into supporting this bid to boost economic development across our region."

Ms Buckley has been a vocal advocate for the service, organising high-level meetings with major rail industry players and even securing the backing of the Prime Minister at one point. She confirmed that she is working closely with the applicant, Alstom, to revise and resubmit the proposal, taking on board the feedback received. "We will not give up until we have secured better rail services for the residents of Shrewsbury," she affirmed.

Inadequate explanation

Telford's MP, Shaun Davies, also strongly criticised the ORR's decision, calling it "deeply disappointing" and an "inadequate explanation for denying our town the rail connectivity it urgently needs." He reaffirmed his commitment to securing a direct rail link, noting that other towns of Telford's size already benefit from direct London services. "Our businesses, commuters and residents deserve better," he stressed.

The ORR's reasoning centres on the southern section of the West Coast Main Line, stating that introducing the new service would "negatively impact performance for existing passengers and freight customers." Notably, the WSMR proposal would have required no taxpayer funding.

Mr Davies has announced he will meet with both WSMR and Network Rail to strengthen the case and explore all avenues to overturn the decision. He urged the ORR to "have the decency to the people of Telford by visiting the town and seeing first-hand the impact this service could have—unlocking new opportunities for both residents and businesses," concluding, "We are not backing down."

Setback for our borough and the wider region

Councillor Lee Carter, Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, described the decision as "a setback for our borough and the wider region," emphasising that "the issue extends beyond one service - it’s about unlocking vital economic, leisure, and commuter benefits for our communities." He pledged to continue making the case for improved connectivity via Telford Central and Wellington stations and to work closely with Shaun Davies MP.