A COUNTY council task group has pledged to continue to press for improved rail services across Wiltshire.

The promise to exert pressure on train companies and the government has been made after an investigation by the overview and scrutiny committee of Wiltshire County Council into concerns expressed by local rail users.

Members discussed issues such as fare increases, overcrowding and reduced services. These have been blamed by passengers on the new train timetable introduced in December by First Great Western, after taking over the franchise for train services in the region.

It is written into the franchise agreement with the government that, by January 2008, the total number of seats in the regional train fleet will have reduced by 7,387.

It is believed this will have an impact on services in Wiltshire on the Cardiff to Portsmouth and Bedwyn to London trains.

Also, the greatly reduced level of train service at Melksham in the new timetable is likely to depress levels of usage.

This could mean the proposed station improvement by the county council to allow access from the adjacent A350, integration with bus services and parking provision would cease to be viable.

From December, the Department for Transport will cease to support the First Great Western local trains between Westbury and Southampton and, instead, will support a Southampton to Salisbury service.

This leaves a gap in service between Westbury and Salisbury, considerably reducing the service at Warminster and Dilton Marsh.

The open returns which are required for occasional travel in the peak periods have greatly increased in price, while long-distance season tickets to London are regulated fares.

Councillors heard First Great Western had responded to some of the concerns with minor changes and improvements.

The county council has no direct power over the rail industry, but it said it would continue to push for a solution which mitigates the impacts where possible.