MORE than 7,000 people are reported to have signed a petition urging the restoration of through trains between Shropshire and London. The campaign was launched after the withdrawal of open access Wrexham & Shropshire services at the end of January.

Local MPs have become involved in the bid to bring back direct services between Shrewsbury and London, and transport minister Theresa Villers is to meet the MP for Shrewsbury, Daniel Kawczynski, on 10 March.

Wrexham & Shropshire, which passed to Deutsche Bahn after the German state-owned operator acquired Laing Rail, lost £2.9 million in 2010 alone, and chairman Adrian Shooter had said there was no prospect of moving to profit.

The last W&S train left London Marylebone for Wrexham General at 18.30 on 28 January.

There were protests from W&S passengers at the speed of the withdrawal, which was carried out at just 48 hours’ notice, although arrangements were made to accommodate existing bookings on other operators’ services.

Virgin has just confirmed the first stage of its bid for the next West Coast franchise, which will start in April next year, and there are calls for the new WCML intercity contract to include Shrewsbury services.