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Direct rail service plan ed by PM

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News, West Midlands
El Pollock Wrexham railway station. There are two platforms that have ornate canopies overhead. The left platform has a line of thin columns and a sign that says "Wrexham General". Behind them is a long brick building with windows and doors. There are tracks between the two platforms.El Pollock
New train operator WSMR plans to offer a direct rail service from Wrexham to London

Plans for a new enger rail service running direct trains between north Wales, the West Midlands and London have received from the prime minister.

A new open-access rail operator, called the Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway (WSMR), has been formed, offering engers in Wrexham, as well as Gobowen, Shrewsbury, Walsall and Coleshill, a direct link with the capital.

Speaking in the Commons, Shrewsbury's Labour MP Julia Buckley asked Sir Keir Starmer if he would the provider's application.

The prime minister responded, saying he would be "delighted to make sure the MP and other interested MPs meet with the rail minister to put their case forward".

WSMR Route map from WSMR that a line of train stations that start from Wrexham General and finish at London Euston. In the background there is an image of the England and Wales in blue.WSMR
Trains from Wrexham General to London Euston will run through the West Midlands

Proposals for the new operation from WSMR could see five trains per day running in each direction from Monday to Saturday, with four services running in both directions on a Sunday.

Trains will stop at Gobowen, Shrewsbury, Telford Central, Wolverhampton, Darlaston, Walsall, Coleshill Parkway, Nuneaton and Milton Keynes on the route between Wrexham General and London Euston.

The route would by Birmingham by utilising a railway line only used for freight services, with trains running directly from Wolverhampton and Walsall to Nuneaton for the first time, a WSMR spokesperson said.

A formal application to open the service was submitted to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) on Thursday, they added.

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