Rail Connections to London: Rural Towns

Linsey Farnsworth Excerpts

Monday 23rd March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Julia Buckley (Shrewsbury) (Lab)]

I am delighted to lead this debate to enable the House to discuss the need for rail connections between London and rural towns.

As the Minister well knows, I represent the beautiful constituency of Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire and home to some 70,000 residents. We already have the nation’s favourite market, winning the national award no fewer than three times, but this weekend we were once again named one of Britain’s best places to live, according to The Sunday Times in its annual guide. Judges praised our “period-drama backdrop”, our fabulous range of eateries and our cool suburbs. The Sunday Times went on to say:

“The award-winning indoor market is surely one of the most inspiring places to shop in the whole country… the town centre has enough quirky delis, bakeries, bars and cafés to keep you in top-notch flat whites…and espresso martinis every day of the week. Culture comes courtesy of the cinema in the Old Market Hall and the boldly brutalist Theatre Severn”.

It added that Shrewsbury

“even has its own cool suburbs in Belle Vue, where volunteers run an annual arts festival”.

That is before we mention the 600 listed buildings, the Tudor castle and the riverboat cruises along the loop of the River Severn.

[Linsey Farnsworth (Amber Valley) (Lab)]

Shrewsbury certainly does sound like a wonderful place to visit. I am working hard on the visitor economy for Amber Valley, and an integrated transport system and good transport links are a vital part of that. There was a daily railway service running from London to Alfreton in my constituency until 2021, when it was unfortunately discontinued. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is important for us to encourage people to come out of the big smoke and into our rural areas to see what we have to offer in, for instance, her constituency and mine, and that it is important that they have the transport links to facilitate their visits?

[Julia Buckley]

My hon. Friend has made a powerful point about the need to visit these beautiful spots around the country.

A loop of the River Severn encircles our medieval town with a beating modern heart on the border with Wales. However, before all Members in the Chamber rush to book their weekend break to Shrewsbury, I must tell them that there is a slight problem: how can anyone get there from here? Shropshire is the only county in the UK without a direct train service to London.