THE transport infrastructure around Swindon and the South West could be completely revamped over the next 15 years under exciting £7.5 billion pound proposals.

Two new railway stations could be built at Wootton Bassett and Moredon Bridge, while Swindon station itself could be enlarged to enable more frequent and reliable services to London.

Meanwhile, junctions 15 and 16 of the M4 could be upgraded to ease congestion outside Swindon, new roads could be built and some existing trunk roads widened.

The recommendations are among dozens of major changes suggested for the whole South West region in a crucial study commissioned by the Government.

Wroughton-based engineering consultants, Halcrow, were appointed two years ago to work on the plan, known as Swarmms (South West and South Wales Multi-Modal Study).

It was aimed at finding long-term solutions to the increasing road congestion problems between London, the South West and South Wales. The 64-page study was unveiled yesterday and presented to the South West Regional Assembly in Taunton.

The assembly's councillors will now analyse the suggestions and invite views from local authorities before holding a public hearing in June.

They will then pass on their own recommendations to Government ministers, who will have the final decision on which parts of the scheme to press ahead with.

Chester Long, chairman of the assembly, said: "We have not had time to examine the report's recommendations in detail, but transport is certainly one of the key issues for our region.

"We cannot expect the Swarmms report to offer solutions to all of our problems, but we can make sure that our local authorities and stakeholders have an opportunity to comment on it.

"The next step is to agree the key issues, establish our priorities and then ensure the Government supports delivery of the solutions we recommend."

Richard Bayly, director of transport at Government Office for the South West said: "This is an important milestone in the development of better integrated transport for the public along the main transport corridors from London to the South West and South Wales."

The suggestions relevant to Swindon include:

Substantial increases in frequencies of both long-distance and local rail services to provide greater opportunities to use rail as an alternative to the car. Substantial infrastructure works to increase rail capacity would be needed to enable this to happen

A new station at Wootton Bassett and possibly a new station at Moredon Bridge on the Swindon to Gloucester railway line, with an associated park and ride facility

A direct rail link to Heathrow from Bristol via Swindon

Upgrading of the junctions around Swindon (15 and 16) to improve access to the urban area

Significant upgrade to the existing coach services operating along the M4, with three new coachways proposed at Swindon, Chieveley and Cribbs Causeway, intended to improve the attractiveness of coach travel

A new link road from the A3102 across the M4 to ease the load on junction 16

Widening the A419 between Commonhead Roundabout and junction 15 of the M4

A revamped and high quality public transport system for the town

Implementation of an upgraded Intelligent Transport System (ITS) along the London-Bristol M4 corridor. This is intended to assist in better management of traffic flow at busy times, providing higher standards of information to the travelling public and reducing the adverse impacts of incidents along the motorway.