SWINDON'S reputation in the railway industry has spread to all corners of the world.

So much so that a group of Chinese railway managers have come to visit Scott Wilson Railways and First Great Western to learn how the railway industry works in England.

And from the moment they arrived they have been given a whistle-stop tour of the industry.

Swindon-based Scott Wilson Railways organised the visit to the UK for eight senior railway officials from the Ministry of Railways in China.

Rupert Dyer, project manager for Scott Wilson said: "Conditions in China are very different. The team are keen to learn from UK experience and have been impressed with our high-speed railway and intensity of train services."

The members will be in Swindon for two weeks to find out more about how they can improve their travel links.

Tim Bowcock, a spokesman for First Great Western, said: "They wanted to come here to find out about the UK rail industry, to increase their knowledge about the industry and to take away lessons they have learned to apply them in China.

"We're delighted to have been involved."

The areas in China, which will benefit from this visit are Nanchang, Gzhou and Shanghai.