A delegation of MPs from Shropshire and Mid Wales was due to hold talks with rail giant Virgin today, Thursday, over moves to secure a new direct rail link to London.
Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski, was one of five county MPs, as well as Glyn Davies, MP for Montgomeryshire, and Wrexham MP Ian Lucas, to meet transport minister Theresa Villiers on Tuesday in the capital to discuss the possibility of a restored link following the loss of the Wrexham & Shropshire service.
And following a ‘positive’ meeting with the minister, Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard has organised a meeting with bosses at Virgin Trains today in Parliament.
It comes as the MPs said they were considering launching a major public campaign to build support for the move.
The only way of reinstating a rail link to the capital is to see whether the service could be included in the West Coast franchise, which is currently under review.
Mr Kawczynski said he believed the proposed venture could help pave the way for increased business and tourism opportunities.
The new West Coast franchise, held by Virgin Trains since 1997, will dictate the fresh bids. The last train from Wrexham to London, via Shropshire, ran in January.
Philip Dunne, MP for Ludlow, said it was hoped that a new service could serve Holyhead on the west coast of Anglesey as well as Wrexham, Shrewsbury and Telford, before joining the West Coast mainline just outside Birmingham. The Tory MP said: “We were united, all of the MPs across the region, in calling for the franchise to consider an alternative route to Holyhead running through Shrewsbury and we were encouraged by the minister to make our case to the bidders for the franchise.”
by Lisa Rowley