IMPROVEMENTS have been made to the rail timetable in south Shropshire.

This will mean more stops at Ludlow, Craven Arms and Church Stretton.

Recent timetable changes from Transport for Wales (TfW) had left a gap in service at Ludlow, Craven Arms and Church Stretton.

Following pressure from the public, and the issue being raised by Ludlow MP Philip Dunne, the Rail Minister Chris Heaton Harris MP pressed TfW to rectify the unexpected gap in station calls, which was contrary to the provisions of the rail devolution agreements.

TfW have now put forward a plan to Network Rail that restores the Craven Arms and Church Stretton stops from the May 2020 timetable change, with the northbound and southbound timetable gap at Ludlow being rectified already.

“I am pleased the Rail Minister has stepped in to ensure that TfW’s new timetable does not breach the conditions under which timetabling for the Marches Line was devolved to the Welsh Assembly – removing the unexpected gap in service for rail users in the Ludlow constituency,” said Mr Dunne.

He said that constituents and rail users have made suggestions about the changes. “I am grateful to the constituents and local rail user groups who contacted me with advice as to how we might reverse this decision,” added Mr Dunne.