CAMPAIGNERS are disappointed with the news that Corsham train station will not be reopened for at least three years, but there is still light at the end of the tunnel.

Transport Minister David Jamieson told campaigners that there was no chance of reversing the Strategic Rail Authority's decision to axe the Bristol to Oxford line that would have served Corsham station.

The campaigners met with Mr Jamieson on Monday to put forward their argument to save the First Great Western service after it was announced that it would be cut from May.

The group included North Wiltshire MP James Gray, Wiltshire county councillors Toby Sturgis and Peter Davis, county council officer Allan Creedy, North Wiltshire district councillor Christine Reid, district council officer Bob Gwilliam, and Anne Lock from Transport 2000, who is leading the station campaign.

Although the campaigners were disappointed with the news, Mr Jamieson did give them further options to consider.

"It is clear that it is still a live issue," said Coun Reid. "The minister clearly sympathised with the commitment and determination that we showed."

The minister suggested that it might be possible to persuade other train operators to stop at Corsham station. But this will not happen until 2006 when a new Great Western franchise will be put in place.

Mr Gray said he was disappointed about the delay but pleased that the minister had given them some encouragement.

"What we now need to do is to persuade the possible train operators of the demand for rail services from Corsham and to try to make sure that they include services stopping at those new stations in their franchise bids," said Mr Gray.

Coun Reid said even the Strategic Rail Authority was encouraging the campaigners to keep on lobbying.

"There were SRA representatives at the meeting and they were saying don't give up. The meeting really clarified that it was worth carrying on the campaign," she said.

Coun Reid said although they were determined to reopen the station it was frustrating not knowing how long it was going to take.

"The meeting was constructive but disappointing because we have no clear timescale for the reopening. But we are all determined to keep on fighting until we get it," she said.

The minister spent more than an hour with the delegation and was praised for looking at the campaign seriously.

"The minister was very well informed and courteous. We could not have had a better hearing," said Coun Reid.

"But there are clearly higher national priorities that he feels he will have to pursue at the moment."

The Strategic Rail Authority announced in January that it would be cutting the Bristol to Oxford service to ease rail congestion.

Corsham station was closed 40 years ago and Mrs Lock has been campaigning to reopen it for 17 years.

In the last five years the campaign has hit the buffers and suffered a series of delays on many occasions but it was hoped that it would be reopened this summer.

The county council has put £35,000 aside to improve the surrounding infrastructure but these developments are on hold until the reopening is secured.

Corsham Town Council is trying to persuade the county council to make some of the improvements now because it feels the town cannot wait until the possible reopening.

Road improvements are desperately needed on Pound Mead that leads into the station because there is no pavement on one side of the road.

Town councillor James Fraser said: "I am very concerned about the number of parents who walk their children to school along that road.

"We have asked Wiltshire County Council to really look at it rather than waiting for the improvements that would have coincided with the station."