THE Strategic Rail Authority has admitted it would be poor 'public relations' if a west Wiltshire train service to London Waterloo was axed.

The Wiltshire Times has received more than 100 letters supporting our campaign to protect the Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge and Warminster service to Waterloo.

Many readers use the service daily and say it is a crucial link to the Waterloo side of London and is cheaper than taking a mainline train to London Paddington.

The SRA is considering bids from four train operating companies for the franchise to run the service, but it is not compulsory to keep the service going.

Wiltshire residents who use the service want confirmation it will not be axed when the new operating company takes over in May 2004.

And, with a decision on the new franchise imminent, the SRA has said cutting this sort of service would not be in anyone's interests.

Authority spokesman Jonty Alone said: "We want to see strong, imaginative proposals from the people bidding for the franchise, and I suppose they will have as much vested interest in this route to Waterloo as the people who use it.

"Put it this way, it would not be good PR for them if the first thing they did was to axe a popular service."

The four train operating companies vying for the service are: Arriva Trains Ltd, GB Railways Plc/Connex Transport UK Limited, National Express Group PLC and Serco Rail/Netherlands Railways.

Mr Alone said it was not part of the SRA's plan to allow rural and branch lines to close and if cost-cutting was required, the bigger mainline services would be more likely to go.

Meanwhile west Wiltshire campaigners are left waiting while the SRA decides which company is awarded the Wales & Borders franchise.

Mr Alone said: "I think we can expect a decision in the next two weeks."

The Wiltshire Times will forward readers your letters in support of the service to Transport Secretary Alistair Darling, west Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison, and the SRA.

Pamela Wickham, from Bradford on Avon, uses the service regularly and shared the view of many readers in her letter saying the number of people using the service should make the operating company feel obliged to keep it up.

She said: "I am dismayed at the possibility of losing this service.

"Axing it would mean an increase in road traffic to Bath or Chippenham just at a time when the Government is seeking to reduce it."