Recent content by NickJ

I understand that Virgin trains are route training the Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton route today (hopefully in preparation for the new direct Shropshire-London service in December). A Voyager is expected at Wellington station at 16-16pm this afternoon.

Unfortunately a connection via Crewe is useless for the 170,000 population (and growing) of the Telford area with many multi-national businesses - with the poor commuter services (overcrowded and very irregular timetable) that's why a direct service is essential for Shropshire - the rail...

What a shambles of a situation!! Although I'm not surprised Virgin trains have refused to accept such unacceptable 'offpeak' paths!! It brings the rail industry into disrepute - The DFT have got a lot to answer for.

The 16-03pm Shrewsbury-Euston service will just bring the rail industry into disrepute as it is a token service which will only please politicians and be of no use to fare paying passengers! A few heads need banging together to get a viable Shropshire-London service that will actually be of use...

The crewe-shrewsbury-euston timetable is as expected completely useless and is just a token service. Have Virgin confirmed that they have accepted this unsatisfactory path?

The key issue that the offer from NR to Virgin is totally unsuitable and will not attract passengers and will bring the rail industry further poor publicity. I believe that Virgin should stick to its guns and appeal to the ORR for more suitable paths that will actually the paying customer...

The MP for Shrewsbury has informed the media that the proposed Shrewsbury-London direct service will start in May 2014 but with only a 'token' service on Mon-Fri and Sun (ridiculously there is no Sat service when the leisure market demand will be greatest!) with the train leaving Shrewsbury...

In todays Shropshire Star it states that Network Rail have offered Virgin Trains '2 return off peak paths' for the May 2014 timetable which they were considering!!

Back to the main point is there any definite information about the proposed Virgin Shrewsbury-London service - days of operation/timetable/starting date etc?

if it turns out to be one off peak Mon-Fri and one Sun return service it will be of no use at all in terms of business use or travellers from Shropshire wanting a day trip to London (which for most working people would be on a Saturday!). If that is the case the whole campaign has almost been a...

There are still no details and the rumoured one return off peak service a day will be of little use to Shropshire. It looks like a 'token service' to appease politicians.

This news has been confirmed on all the Shropshire media but no details of times etc - but it will start in May 2014.

There are 'strong rumours' that Virgin have just been granted track access to start the new Shrewsbury-London service in May 2014. Anyone heard anything?

In tonight's Shropshire Star there is a story to say that Virgin have reapplied to run Shrewsbury-London direct trains from next May and that they are expecting to hear within 2 to 3 weeks whether the application has been successful. They seem more confident this time.

The Shropshire Star yesterday mentioned that the ORR are putting pressure on Network Rail to improve reliability on the West Coast ML so as to allow the new Shrewsbury to London to start 'as soon as possible' - maybe in the May 2014 timetable, as its only 2 trains each way a day!