A PLANNED fast direct rail link between Shropshire and London and linking with Birmingham Airport and the NEC, is "a lot of optimism," Church Stretton Rail Users Association secretary Derek Askew said this week.

"It's a very fine scheme, but will cost about £96 million and I'd be surprised to see it happen in anything like the near future," he added."

Shropshire Strategic Rail Partnership has just submitted plans for a cost-effective link, replacing the present slow service which entails changes at Wolverhampton or Birmingham New Street with fast, direct trains that would also connect Shrewsbury and Telford to Birmingham Airport and the NEC.

The plan, favourably received in local political circles, would mean electrifying the Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton line.

Agreement

"I understand there is a verbal agreement with Virgin that if that stretch were electrified it would run the through service," said Mr Askew.

Electrification presently finishes at Wolverhampton.

"Electrifying the line, substations, upgrading, signals and extra rolling stock would cost about £96 million," Mr Askew said.

"I don't think that will be forthcoming in the foreseeable future. To be honest, I don't know how much real difference it would make to us on the Church Stretton-Craven Arms-Ludlow line.

"People here generally prefer to go via Newport.

"It would save having to change at Wolverhampton or Birmingham, but would still have to go through the New Street bottleneck.

"I would certainly consider the new route, but I suspect I would continue to go via Newport, which is more pleasant anyway."

The scheme has been greeted with great enthusiasm in business circles.

It would create a rail-head in Shrewsbury, giving areas north and west of the town improved services.