Have your say on rail improvements

Businesses have been urged to have their say on options to improve rail links between Shropshire, Telford, the Black Country and Birmingham. 

Strategic transport body Midlands Connect has launched the online survey asking all businesses for their views on possible upgrades to the line.

The survey builds on work released last year in Midlands Connect’s Rails to Recovery report, which found that electrifying the route through Telford and the Black Country and extending London services to Shrewsbury could create up to £500million of benefits for businesses and residents by making the trains hourly to London from Shrewsbury.

Midlands Connect Senior Rail Programme Manager Tawhida Yaacoub said: “We are calling on employers and businesses in Shropshire, the Black Country and Birmingham to get involved in our online consultation to make their voices heard.

“We want to know what the impact could be on them if we improve the rail route and specifically, if it could lead to more jobs and growth in the local economy.

“The data given to us by local firms will be weaved into the business cases we are submitting to government to help make the case for investment in this regionally critical rail route.”

The survey will close on September 5 2022, with results to be announced soon after. Midlands Connect also plan to submit a business case to government in the coming weeks for improvements on the line.

To take part in the survey visit https://midlandsconnect.consultationonline.co.uk/shrewsbury-blackcountry-birmingham/