With better rail connectivity, we can unlock the potential of constituencies like Shrewsbury and boost growth

Like so much else in life, our railway stations and the services they offer can be described in romantic and poetic language – but also in a more prosaic, business-like way.

Railway stations – said novelist E.M. Forster – ‘are our gates to the glorious and the unknown. Through them we pass out into adventure and sunshine.’

Now, while certainly not wishing to disagree with any of that, I personally, when gazing admiringly at the grand architecture of our beautiful Victorian railway station in Shrewsbury, tend to focus not so much on the notion of adventure and sunshine, more on the chance – the very real chance – to boost local and regional economic growth.

As MP for Shrewsbury, I’m genuinely excited by the opportunity for a significant upgrade to rural connectivity for our local businesses and our communities.

Yes, my approach might be more practical and down-to-earth than Mr Forster’s, but I feel there is nevertheless adventure to be found here too.

And so there was a definite spring in my step as I addressed the House of Commons this week on the need for direct rail connections between our great cities and rural towns.

The thrust of my message was – and is – that I represent the lovely constituency of Shrewsbury, county town of Shropshire, home to some 70,000 residents and many thriving businesses, but we still need better connections with our cities.

Shrewsbury, with its multi-award-winning market, 600 listed buildings, historic streets, picturesque castle and riverboat cruises, has so much going for it.

But – again – our towns and rural areas need better rail connectivity.

Once again Shrewsbury has this week been named as one of Britain’s best places to live, according to the Sunday Times in its annual guide.

But we need better rail connectivity.

Judges praised our ‘period-drama backdrop’, our fabulous range of eateries and our cool suburbs.

But we need better rail connectivity.

The Sunday Times says ‘the award-winning market is surely one of the most inspiring places to shop in the whole country, and the town centre has enough quirky delis, bakeries, bars and cafes to keep you in top notch flat whites and espresso martinis every day of the week’.

But we need better rail connectivity.

Yes folks, in case I’m not getting my message across, Shrewsbury, a stunning medieval town with a beating modern heart, and known as the Gateway to Wales, sits in the middle of the only county in the country without a direct train to London.

This is such a missed opportunity because our town is the economic powerhouse of the region.

Indeed a recent report on our visitor economy shows that Shropshire’s tourism sector is now worth over a billion pounds, supporting nearly 10,000 jobs across the county.

Transport for Wales recognises us as a net contributor into the Welsh network, because we offer such fantastic employment, training and leisure opportunities to travellers.

The Shropshire Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly business survey consistently reports the need for additional rail services and how much economic growth this would unlock.

To fill the gap in existing services, there is a current bid for an Open Access operation from the Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway (from Alstom UK) to offer up to four trains daily based on their economic modelling of the latent demand at Shrewsbury and to join a total of six rural towns – currently under-served like mine – with new connections to our capital.

In terms of that latent demand, it is so encouraging to see that in just the last month, a petition from passengers has accrued over 6,200 signatures in favour of the proposed service, and more and more people are signing daily.

Our local transport partners, Transport for Wales and Network Rail have both committed their resources to a fresh Masterplan for Shrewsbury station that can explore the investment needed to unlock the greater capacity and support such a service. The potential could be enormous.

At the end of the debate I was heartened to hear from Transport Minister Keir Mather an assurance that there will be improvements for the railway in our constituency in the near future.

Perhaps we are all in pursuit of adventure and sunshine after all.