SWINDON could be in line for a second railway station.

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

And while 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.”

But Bristol university student Eden Franklin, 26, from Wichelstowe, thought a new station would be a good idea.

She said: “Swindon’s getting bigger now, with there being more housing estates being built. The frequency of the trains needs to increase.

"Because Swindon might not have as many platforms as other stations, sometimes you’re having to go to Bristol Temple Meads or Gloucester to get a train elsewhere.”

That view was echoed by daily commuter Pat Davies, who drives to work in the town centre from Gloucester.

He said: “I looked into getting the train every day, or even say two or three times a week.

“It doesn’t really work for me because of the frequency of the trains. But if there was a new station, especially if it was on the line from the midlands, and that meant more trains could be put on, I would want to try it.

"I’m really aware that I’m driving 60 miles every day, and would much prefer to get the train.”

Coun Renard said even if it went ahead, a new station is unlikely to be actually constructed for at least a decade.

He said: “The funding plans run for five years at a time, so you need to get in before the next five-year funding formula. It means even if it were to happen we are talking longer than 10 years from now, but the talks are ongoing and have been for a while.

“If we are serious about encouraging people to use public transport more, and helping them to drive less, then I think it’s something we should be doing.”