RAIL campaigners in Bedwyn were disappointed when it was announced that there was no reprieve for the village's direct link to Paddington.

Steve Smith, of the Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group, said he had been quietly optimistic that part of Great Western's plans for its new franchise would be to save the Bedwyn to London service.

But hope was dashed on Monday when he received an email from First Great Western revealing that despite lobbying from Devizes MP and railways minister Claire Perry and an on-line petition with 2,000 names there had been no change of mind.

The email said: "There is no immediate solution to the loss of through services on the Bedwyn to Newbury corridor given electrification is not being extended. This means in May 2017 Bedwyn to London services will be replaced by Newbury to London electric trains and Bedwyn to Newbury diesel shuttles."

Mr Smith said: "I was very disappointed. I had dared to hope that we might have done enough lobbying to stand a chance of a reprieve.

"I think it is a bad decision. Consultation has shown that most people from Marlborough will choose to drive to Newbury rather than come to Bedwyn and then have to change trains."

The only good news for Bedwyn is that Great Western has agreed to pilot the use of Hitachi independently powered electric trains from 2018.

Mrs Perry said: "I will be pushing to bring this pilot study forward to 2017 so there is not a gap. If we are able to do this it will be possible for the battery operated trains to hitch up to the electrified trains at Newbury without passengers having to change trains."

She said she would also be campaigning hard for electrification to extend beyond Newbury to Bedywn and Pewsey.

But Mr Smith said he was worried that if the pilot study is not brought forward there will be an 18 month gap when commuters will be forced to change trains or find an alternative way of travelling to Newbury.

He said: "If the pilot is brought forward that would be good news but there are no guarantees."

Great Western has said that one train in each direction will continue to operate as a direct service to and from London.

Pewsey has done better under the annoucements as it will keep its direct service and is also to get a new footbridge and more cycle racks.

Mrs Perry said: "The old bridge is very slippery when it is wet. It was second-hand even when it first came to Pewsey so it is good news it is being replaced. Work is due to start soon."

The on-line petition ends on Tuesday. Go to www.bedwyntrains.org.uk