WOOTTON Bassett railway station will not reopen for at least five years, Tory MP James Gray has been told.

A delegation led by the North Wiltshire MP was informed that there was no question of reversing the decision to axe the Bristol to Oxford rail line.

The move crushes hopes that the mothballed stations at both Corsham and Wootton Bassett would be reopened for passengers taking short trips.

However, transport minister David Jamieson did reveal that a new franchise, covering all short rail services in the South West, would be set up from September 2006.

The move was described as a "glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel" by Mr Gray, who has led the campaign for the stations to reopen.

He said: "It was a disappointing meeting, because the minister made it clear there was no question of changing the decision to close the Bristol to Oxford line.

"But, if we keep up the pressure, we may be able to persuade the Strategic Rail Authority and the new franchisee to include Corsham and Wootton Bassett in its plans.

"Local people need to demonstrate that there is demand for those stations. And we need to gear up to do that straight away, because the negotiations will start next year."