CORSHAM Station should be reopened in 18 months time, the Government has announced.

The commitment to an opening date in summer 2003 was finally made last week after months of delays and uncertainty.

It came after North Wiltshire MP James Gray raised the question in Parliament, asking the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions to commit to a timescale.

The question read: "To ask the Secretary of State when the new station at Corsham will open, and what delay there has been in its opening."

David Jamieson MP replied: "The station is now expected to become operational at the start of summer 2003. There have been delays of a year, caused by a variety of issues which have now been resolved."

Mr Gray has long supported moves to bring Corsham passengers back on to the national rail network.

He has joined residents in their campaign for the station's re-opening as a means of relieving traffic on the A4.

Despite the delays, Mr Gray said he was now confident the station would become a reality within 18 months.

He said he was hopeful that representations for a station in Wootton Bassett would be equally successful.

The Government announcement was made days after officers from Wiltshire County Council had talks with the Strategic Rail Authority to iron out a few remaining problems.

Building work is expected to start in July next year.

Funding is in place, with £1.3 million from the Strategic Rail Authority, alongside money from Pockeridge Farm developers and local authorities.