Scrapped: Key direct rail service from West Midlands to London is to end

Direct services to the capital will instead depart from Birmingham New Street, while return trains will terminate at Wolverhampton on weekdays, and at Birmingham at weekends.

The company had pledged to increase direct rail connections to the capital when it took over the franchise in December 2019.

But a spokeswoman for the Department for Transport said falling passenger numbers meant the service was now losing £1.4 million a year.

"Changing travel patterns mean our railways aren’t generating the same revenues as they were before the [coronavirus] pandemic, and we can't ask taxpayers to maintain the historically high level of financial support for the industry indefinitely," she said.

The spokeswoman said the number of rail services between Shropshire and Wolverhampton would be increased to mitigate the loss of the direct link.

But she said the direct link could yet be reinstated if an application by Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway Company to run a rail service from Wrexham to London is given the go-ahead.

“While Avanti will be withdrawing this service due to the very low number of passengers who use it, West Midlands Trains has plans to ramp up the number of trains between Shropshire towns and Birmingham," she said.

She added that Avanti would increase the number of services between Birmingham and London.

"This will bring greater benefits to more passengers in the West Midlands."

The spokeswoman said the direct service, which runs from Shrewsbury, stopping at Wellington and Telford Central, was used by about 40-60 passengers a day, who will from June need to change trains for journeys to the capital.

The service was introduced in 2014 by previous operator Virgin Trains, which named one of its trains The Wrekin Giant to celebrate.

The Department for Transport spokeswoman said services by Transport for Wales and West Midlands Trains [WMT] would provide sufficient capacity between Shrewsbury and Birmingham.

"WMT plans to introduce additional trains operating between Shropshire towns and Birmingham from June 2024," she said.

"We expect West Midland Trains to operate around 20 more trains a day between Shrewsbury and Birmingham New Street.

"In addition, Avanti West Coast plans to incrementally increase the number of fast services between London and Birmingham, improving options for those travelling between London and Shrewsbury."

The spokeswoman said Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway Company had applied to operate services between Wrexham General and London Euston, calling at Shrewsbury and other stations in North Wales and the West Midlands.

"While it is ultimately a decision for the Office of Rail and Road whether to approve this application, the rail minister has set out his support," she added.

She said the taxpayer subsidised rail travel to the tune of £1.2 billion during the previous financial year.

When it took over the franchise, Avanti West Coast announced plans for an extra service from Gobowen to London, stopping at Shrewsbury. It also announced plans for new 'bi-mode' trains along the route, which can switch from electric to diesel power for the final stretch of the route between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury.

Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski said he was "very disappointed" with the decision, despite not being particularly enamoured with the service.

"The service had huge numbers of delayed journeys, there was a constant cancelling of trains, strikes and lack of manpower, but I'm very concerned by this announcement that they're going to scrap the service.

"We fought very hard for it. Having a direct link to the capital is vital for encouraging domestic and international visitors to Shrewsbury.

"What I am encouraged by is the restoration of the Wrexham service. The Wrexham to Marylebone service was superb the first time. So rather than trying to convince Avanti to rescind its decision, I'm minded to back that service.

"The frustration has been that the one or two services a day is not conducive to a lot of people using it. If they [Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway] come with more ways of getting between Shropshire and the capital - it will be transformational."