DEVIZES should have a virtual railway station, with everything available except trains, as part of an integrated transport network for the area.

That is the claim of the Association of Kennet Passengers, which is holding an open forum in the Cheese Hall at Devizes town hall next Wednesday, February 2 at 7pm.

The virtual station would offer a ticket office where through journeys to all parts of the country could be booked, an information centre and a comfortable waiting area.

But the scheme would rely on buses to take passengers to railway stations at Pewsey, Chippenham and Swindon.

Kate Freeman, chairman of Kennet Passengers, said: "Devizes is more and more the venue for countywide meetings and anyone without a car just can't get here.

"We desperately need an integrated transport scheme for the area and we would welcome anyone with ideas of how this can be achieved to our meeting."

Other ideas to be debated at the meeting include a branch line to Pewsey, which would be operated on buses, later running of services to and from Swindon and Chippenham railway stations and better Wigglybus linkages.

Transport is available to and from the meeting by ringing (01380) 860183.