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New Rail Bid: Shropshire to London Daily Service
3 Jan
Summary
- A new proposal aims for four daily trains from Shropshire to London.
- The previous direct service was discontinued in 2025 due to low passenger numbers.
- The new bid focuses on economic growth and aims for no government subsidies.
Plans are underway for a new daily train service connecting Shropshire directly to London Euston, with Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway (WSMR) leading the initiative. The company has submitted a bid for four daily services, aiming for operations to begin towards the end of 2026. This proposal emerges after the previous direct service was halted in 2025 due to insufficient passenger numbers.
WSMR's bid includes stops at a minimum of seven locations, spanning the West Midlands, Warwickshire, and Milton Keynes. An earlier proposal for five daily services was rejected by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in July 2025 over concerns about increased congestion on the West Coast Mainline. The revised application features four services and an additional stop at Wellington, Shropshire.
This new venture is designed to boost Shropshire's economy by an estimated £2.2m annually, with WSMR anticipating approximately a thousand daily passengers. The operator is also involved in plans for a new Shrewsbury Parkway station. WSMR is seeking an 'open access' contract, meaning no government subsidies will be involved. The ORR is expected to decide on the seven-year track access agreement in spring 2026.
