Westbury Train Watch will be meeting this afternoon after plans for rail electrification at Westbury Train Station took another backwards step today.

A report carried out, on behalf of the Department for Transport, by consultants ARUP found that it didn’t make economic sense to extend the electrification to Westbury.

The current Great Western Electrification plans stop at Newbury and the Department for Transport considered four options, with three including an extension to Westbury, and appointed ARUP to carry out a review of each option.

The extension was dismissed as the consultants couldn’t justify costs to electrify an additional 85 miles of rail track but the electrification, which aims to bring improved services, was extended to Bedwyn Train Station.

Andrew Murrison MP for south west Wiltshire, Claire Perry MP for Devizes and Richard Benyon MP for Newbury have written to Simon Burns MP, Minister of State for Transport, seeking assurances about the future of the regional service.

“I’m disappointed as my MP colleagues Clare Perry and Richard Benyon have written to the minister to press the case for Pewsey, Newbury and Westbury to ask at the minimum we do not see a reduction in the service,” said Mr Murrison.

“I still think it is a case of when we get rail electrification and not if but it is disappointing that this upgrade has not been extended to Westbury but I think we can argue from a position of  strength to see future improvements on the line.”

Volunteer group Westbury Train Watch had campaigned for the electrification of the line and have been left disappointed with ARUP’s findings.