Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line

The Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line is the railway line from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury via Wellington, it was originally built by the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway. The line is double track throughout, with rarely used relief sidings at Cosford and 4 tracks through Wellington station. The electrification from Stafford Road Junction to Oxley, is provided solely to enable electric stock to access Oxley depot and is therefore constructed as a "tram wire" suitable for low speeds only.

Signalling is centred at Madeley Junction. Towards Wolverhampton, "Oxley" signal box takes over and towards Shrewsbury, "Abbey Foregate" Junction signal box.

Route

The towns and villages served by the route are listed below, East to West.

* Wolverhampton (City of Wolverhampton) - 6 platforms
* Bilbrook (Staffordshire) - 2 platforms
* Codsall (Staffordshire) - 2 platforms
* Albrighton (Shropshire) - 2 platforms
* Cosford (Shropshire) - 2 platforms
* Shifnal (Shropshire) - 2 platforms
* Telford Central (Telford and Wrekin) - 2 platforms
* Oakengates (Telford and Wrekin) - 2 platforms
* Wellington (Telford and Wrekin) - 3 platforms
* Shrewsbury (Shropshire) - 5 platforms "(numbered 3 to 7)"

Passenger services

Arriva Trains Wales, London Midland and Wrexham & Shropshire all operate passenger trains on this line. Westbound, some trains go beyond Shrewsbury to Chester, Aberystwyth and Wrexham while eastbound, services continue beyond Wolverhampton to Birmingham New Street or to London Marylebone. Wrexham & Shropshire services call at Wolverhampton solely to set down passengers travelling southbound and to pick up passengers northbound.

Freight

The Coalbrookdale line, which serves Ironbridge Power Station to the south of Telford near Ironbridge, joins the Wolverhampton-Shrewsbury Line at Madeley Junction, which is between the Telford Central and Shifnal stations. Coal trains (EWS) use the route, supplying the power station.

See also

*Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway

External links

* [http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/railways/S%20and%20B.htm History of the Railway]
* [http://www.londonmidland.co.uk London Midland]
* [http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk Arriva Trains Wales]