Statement re Wrexham & Shropshire railway company

Following today’s news that the Wrexham & Shropshire train service is to cease from this Friday, Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for economy and waste said:

“I was very disappointed to hear the news about Wrexham & Shropshire train service.

“Having a direct rail link between Shropshire and London – particularly one that has been popular and much respected – has helped to increase the number of visitors to the county from the South East over the past two years, which has provided a real boost to the county’s tourist industry and the local economy. It has also made it easy for people from Shropshire to visit the capital for business or pleasure.

“I am, of course, very concerned by the impact on the company’s staff and have asked our Council Recruitment and Redundancy Support Group to work with Job Centre Plus and Wrexham & Shropshire railway company to find new employment and self-employment opportunities.

“We are now urgently working with our colleagues at Telford & Wrekin Council, and talking to the Department for Transport, in the hope that it will be possible to reinstate a direct rail link to London in the near future.”