CORSHAM'S long-awaited £2.3m railway station will be open in 18 months.

The Government has finally agreed a timetable for the re-opening, with building work starting next spring.

Delighted campaigners are jubilant that a date has been set after countless delays in the 15-year battle.

Veteran campaigner Peter Davis said: "I am overjoyed and I just hope that we can rely on them keeping to that commitment and timescale."

A planning application for the new station, platforms, car park, and footbridge will be submitted to North Wiltshire District Council in January.

Mr Davis, who is a Corsham town, district and county councillor, said: "Wiltshire County Council already has preliminary plans prepared. We will finalise them in January and then put them before the district council for planning approval.

"As soon as we have that and the necessary agreements sanctioned by Railtrack, we can instruct Railtrack to to get the work under way."

It was hoped to start building work in January, but that has now slipped to the summer, with the station ready to re-open the following spring.

The Bristol to Oxford service will be operated by South West Trains and Thames Trains, with an hourly service from 7am to 7pm.

Department of Transport spokesman David Jamieson said: "The station is now expected to become operational at the start of the summer 2003.

"There have been delays, caused by a variety of issues which have now been resolved."