COUNCILLORS from across the political spectrum have united in their call for a better rail service in Swindon.

Council leader Mike Bawden (Cons, Old Town and Lawn), Coun Barrie Thompson (Lab, Parks) and Coun Wendy Johnson (Lib Dem, Old Town and Lawn) have sent a joint letter to First Great Western for guarantees that a new timetable being considered for December will not hurt Swindon and other towns in the south west.

The letter says: "Rail issues have been a hot topic in the south west over recent months, bringing together the region's political parties, business, industry, environmental groups as well as the tourism sector, education, training and accessibility campaigners.

"All these groups have a shared concern about the future of the rail services in the south west."

The three say the region needs a "robust and reliable rail services over the next 10 years".

"There is an immediate threat to levels of service over the next decade, particularly and most urgently in connection with the Great Western franchise proposals."

Coun Bawden said services were being cut while passenger demand was growing.

He said the councillors were taking their concerns to the Government and First Great Western.

"We're writing to the appropriate ministers pointing out that Swindon is a significant commuter belt," Coun Bawden said.

"It's vitally important to keep a strong railway service.

"One of the reasons Swindon has grown over the past decades is the M4 and the high-speed rail lines."

He said that any cut to rail services in the region was a threat to Swindon's continued growth and prosperity.

A spokesman for the railway company said it had received a submission from the councillors and would consider them along with the other 9,000 sent in.

"We welcome their views as part of the timetable consultation which was concluded on March 8," the spokesman said.

"The views of local councils will be considered by us as part of that ongoing process.

"Our timetable experts will now spend the next three months sifting through that feedback.

"If we can make changes to that timetable we will.

"The new timetable will be introduced in December.

"For Swindon itself, the changes are very few."