MPS in Wiltshire fear changes to rail services between Reading and Taunton mean some trains will no longer stop at Westbury.

South West Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison and Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan have written to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin in a bid to stop the train station from being left out, in a bid to speed up services.

“The letter went off this week and the proposed changes came out relatively recently,” said Dr Murrison.

“The Peninsula Rail Task Force have outlined these new fast services to the south where they are shaving time by not stopping at intermediate stations, which may be fine for smaller stations, but Westbury is a major train intersection to the north-south and east-west and serves a large population.

“Commuters from Frome, Chippenham, Melksham and Bradford on Avon use it as well as the towns I represent.

“Unless we big up Westbury now there’s a real risk that it will be sidelined.

“The aim of The Peninsula Rail Task Force is to speed up services, which I fully support, but it must not be at the expense of Westbury.

“It’s worth pointing out that many people moved to Westbury for a very good reason as they can travel around with relative ease.”

“It’s essential at this stage to make it clear that we can’t tolerate Westbury being left out as it certainly would impact massively.”

Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan and Somerton and Frome MP David Warburton have also written to Mr McLoughlin.

Roger Newman, chairman of the West Wiltshire Rail Users Group, which aims to enhance rail services, is also worried.

“Whenever National Rail are asked about this they don’t answer and neither do Great Western,” he said.

“Westbury Station is a major interchange which goes to the west of England and it would cause an extremely large knock-on effect. We are most concerned and have written to the Department of Transport.”

Westbury Station, which has three platforms and was opened in 1848, is a major link to locations in the south of England.

As well as the Reading to Taunton line, the station offers services to London Paddington, Plymouth and Penzance.

Despite the importance of the station, the line is not due to be electrified as part of the £5billion modernisation of Great Western main lines.