A LEADING rail passenger watchdog has backed the case for Corsham station by condemning the government decision to cancel the Oxford to Bristol service.

The Rail Passengers' Committee for Western England (RPC) said "stuffing people into fewer trains" was not the answer to easing congestion problems on the region's rail and road networks.

Campaigners battling to revive the Corsham Station project have welcomed the backing but were dealt a body blow this week when Wiltshire county councillors voted against quizzing the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) about its controversial decision.

They voted on Monday to take no action on the station campaign until 2004.

Leading campaigner Anne Lock said she was amazed at the county council's stance, effectively meaning no action will be taken on the campaign until 2004.

She said: "They refused to support a call for a hearing into the SRA's actions because they said they didn't want to upset the SRA.

"We don't want to be left in a chicken and egg situation where a service is included in the next franchise but we don't have a station. They need to come on line at the same time."

Rail users, local authority representatives and officials from the SRA have been invited to the next RPC meeting, due to be held at Swindon Borough Council offices on April 24.

RPC chairman Christopher Irwin said this week he is "seriously concerned" at the implications of the service withdrawal, which he said would hamper up to 5,000 passengers who use the route on a weekly basis.

Blaming a lack of regulatory control, Mr Irwin said: "The Great Western Main Line has been starved of investment since it was modernised a quarter of a century ago."

Last month North Wilts MP James Gray took a delegation to meet transport minister David Jamieson at the House of Commons.

Mr Jamieson dashed hopes of reversing the SRA's decision but backed the case for Corsham station telling campaigners to pursue other avenues.