Telford’s MP, Shaun Davies has strongly criticised the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for its refusal to approve the proposed Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway (WSMR) line, which included proposals for five direct daily services between Telford and London.
Calling the decision “deeply disappointing” Shaun Davies MP has this morning reaffirmed his commitment to securing a direct rail link to the capital.
Shaun said: “This is a huge blow to Telford and frankly an inadequate explanation for denying our town the rail connectivity it urgently needs. Other towns of our size already benefit from direct services to London, why shouldn’t Telford? Our businesses, commuters and residents deserve better.”
The ORR cited “insufficient capacity” as the reason for rejecting the proposal, despite widespread support from residents and businesses, ministers, the Prime Minister, and local councils. The planned service would have required no taxpayer funding.
Today, Shaun has confirmed he will be meeting with both WSMR, the company behind the bid and Network Rail to strengthen the case and explore all avenues to overturn the decision. Shaun has 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. He made clear: ‘We are not backing down.’
Shaun has long campaigned for improved rail services across Telford and the West Midlands. He also continues to press for faster, more reliable train links from Telford to Wolverhampton, Birmingham which is something that Telford constituents raise with their MP.
