RAILTRACK'S ambitious plan to upgrade the rail network through Wiltshire will not result in a station being opened near Devizes.

Railtrack wants to expand the capacity of traffic on the Great Western mainline from London Paddington to Wales.

Swindon Railway Station will be revamped and parkway stations are planned, but no new stations are planned on the Exeter, Pewsey, Great Bedwyn line into Reading.

A Railtrack spokeswoman said: "There are no plans for a station to serve Devizes. The upgrading of the line will give the opportunity for more stations to be built, but there are no concrete plans yet. However, we would always listen to people's ideas about where stations should be situated."

Devizes Railway Station closed in 1966, and rail campaigners have long called for a parkway station to be built south of Devizes, either at Lydeway or at Lavington.

David Waring, a transport planner from Wiltshire County Council, said it was unlikely a station would be built near Devizes.

He said: "The county council has a list of priorities but Devizes is not one of them. You have to get Railtrack interested in getting the necessary infrastructure in place and get a train operator interested, and then get the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority to issue a franchise for rail services. "The county council sees the best way of providing access to rail services for people in and around Devizes is via the number 49 bus from Swindon to Trowbridge.

"The top priority for new railway stations is at Corsham followed by Wilton and Melksham."

Railtrack is currently consulting with local councils and train companies and hopes to implement its plans in the next eight years.