TALKS about a second railway station for Swindon could make rail travel for people living in other Wiltshire towns.

One possible site for a new station could be close to the M4 which would benefit Wootton Bassett.

That's if talks between the borough council and Network Rail come to fruition.

And while Swindon council leader David Renard stressed it’s not in the power of his cabinet to bring about the change, it is something he would be fully behind.

He said: ”Exeter is just about to open something like its ninth station, and we just have the one in Swindon.

“I think it would be a very good thing to have another station – and perhaps more – in the town, but of course it is Network Rail who would be responsible for actually making it happen.”

Network Rail, which owns the tracks and stations on the country's railways, confirmed it was involved in discussions:

A spokesman said: “Swindon Borough Council has spoken with us about the possibility of another station in Swindon.

"We welcome any investment into the railway which improves services for passengers.”

Asked whether a new station should be a 'Swindon parkway' sited close to the M4 or dual carriageway for people to drive to then use for the bulk of their journey, or somewhere in the town, Coun Renard was even-handed.

He said: “It could be a parkway on the edge of the town, I know Royal Wootton Bassett is lobbying for a station to the west of us, there could be one to the east as well.

“If it was to be in the town then it could be in the Sparcells, Moredon Road area.”

That station would be on the line coming into Swindon from Gloucester Cheltenham and Birmingham.

Commuters and travellers using the existing station had mixed views on whether a new station would make much of a difference

Mel Henson, 56, from London, said: “It all works quite well for me. I work down here about two days a week and there’s a train every 10 minutes pretty much.”

Steve Wood, 60, from Cheney Manor, said: “I don’t think we require another station. I don’t think this one gets enough use to need another one. I’ve never heard reports of it being too busy or overstretched. I guess until that time we don’t require a new one.”

His wife, Janet, 60, called for smaller branch lines to be reopened, adding: “I think we should be able to open up lines to Wootton Bassett – or the Marlborough line.”