Alstom


has
published
proposals
to
run
a
new
open
access
service
between
London,
Shropshire
and
Wrexham,
echoing
the
former
Wrexham
and
Shropshire
operation
which
closed
in
January
2011.

Alstom,
which
is
one
of
the
world’s
major
builders
of
rolling
stock,
has
formed
a
partnership
with
SLC
Rail
and
is
submitting
a
formal
application
to
the
Office
of
Rail
and
Road
today.

Wrexham,
Shropshire
and
Midlands
Railway
services
would
start
from
Wrexham
General
and
call
at
Gobowen,
Shrewsbury,
Telford
Central,
Wolverhampton,
Darlaston,
Walsall,
Coleshill
Parkway,
Nuneaton,
Milton
Keynes
Central
and
London
Euston.
The
trains
would
avoid
central
Birmingham
by
using
the
freight
line
through
Sutton
Park
between
Wolverhampton
and
Water
Orton.

If
it
went
ahead,
WSMR
would
be
the
second
open
access
operator
on
the
West
Coast
Main
Line,
because
it
is
only
a
week
since
the
ORR
approved
an
application
from
Grand
Union
Trains
to
run
four
trains
a
day
between
London
Euston
and
Stirling,
starting
next
year.

The
Government
has
made
it
clear
that
it
is
in
favour
of
open
access.
Rail
minister
Huw
Merriman
said:
‘These
exciting
proposals
could
see
better
connections
for
communities
across
North
Wales
and
the
Midlands,
including
direct
services
to
London
from
Shrewsbury,
Telford
and
Wrexham.
Competition
delivers
choice
for
passengers
and
drives
up
standards,
which
is
why
we
continue
to
work
with
industry
to
help
make
the
most
of
open
access
rail.’

Like
Grand
Union,
WSMR
could
be
launched
next
year.
It
is
proposing
to
run
five
trains
a
day
on
Mondays
to
Saturdays,
and
four
on
Sundays.
Alstom
said
the
new
company
would
serve
a
catchment
area
of
about
1.5
million
people
outside
London
and
employ
about
50
people.

So
far
Alstom
has
not
revealed
what
rolling
stock
could
be
used,
but
the
Sutton
Park
route
to
Wolverhampton
is
not
electrified,
although
that
does
not
rule
out
bi-mode
trains,
which
would
also
need
to
use
a
non-electric
mode
between
Wolverhampton
and
Wrexham.

Alstom’s
managing
director
for
the
UK
and
Ireland
Nick
Crossfield
said:
‘As
the
country’s
leading
supplier
of
rolling
stock
and
train
services,
it
makes
perfect
sense
that
we
now
move
into
operating
our
own
fleet
to
serve
passengers
directly.
Having
been
part
of
the
fabric
of
UK
rail
for
two
centuries,
we’re
excited
to
enter
this
new
era
as
an
open
access
operator.

‘Alstom
is
also
committed
to
embedding
sustainability
into
every
element
of
our
organisation,
and
WSMR
will
help
drive
a
modal
shift
from
road
to
rail
by
offering
a
greener
alternative
for
travellers
across
England
and
Wales.’

SLC
Rail
managing
director
Ian
Walters
added:
‘From
the
Welsh
borders
to
the
Midlands,
our
routes
will
forge
new
connections,
linking
overlooked
regions
of
England
and
Wales
with
direct
services
to
and
from
London.
Passengers
will
benefit
from
more
competitive
fares
and
new
technology
to
simplify
ticket
purchasing
for
our
new
services.
Delighting
the
customer
will
be
at
the
forefront
of
what
we
do;
we
want
WSMR
passengers
to
experience
a
new
excellence
in
customer
service
onboard
our
intercity
trains.

‘Our
proposal
will
support
sustainable
housing
growth,
nurture
communities,
and
unite
business,
leisure,
and
commerce
along
the
corridor.
This
will
enhance
economies
and
bring
a
positive
impact
to
both
communities
and
the
environment
–
and
we
can’t
wait
to
get
started.’