Devizes MP Claire Perry is delighted to have become Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport in the cabinet reshuffle today.

She tweeted: "I am so looking forward to being part of the DfT team rebuilding Britain's infrastructure."

Mrs Perry has campaigned for rail electrification beyond Newbury to Bedwyn and she was 'horrified' by recent proposals to stop trains running directly between both Bedwyn and Pewsey and London.

Only a few days ago she wrote to her predecessor Stephen Hammond of her concerns at suggestions in a consultation document that passengers’ needs might be best served if they changed at Newbury or Reading.

She wrote: “Most of my constituents access services at Bedwyn or Pewsey stations, with the majority of commuters travelling to London Paddington. It is vital the service frequency, timing and number of through services are at least as good as now.

“My constituents and I are therefore horrified by the options in the consultation.”

During a visit to Pewsey Station to find out the views of commuters she said: “The most important thing for commuters is that the direct service remains. They do not want to have to change at Newbury or Reading. It makes absolutely no sense.”

The suggestion was in a Department of Transport consultation document on the future of the Great Western franchise. It is put forward as it is likely that electrification of the line from Paddington will extend only as far as Newbury.