AN IMPROVED train service between south Monmouthshire and Bristol could be provided at little or no cost, say campaigners.

They also say that the long-held aim of a direct connection with London from Severn Tunnel Junction is feasible.

The points have been made in a response from Monmouthshire Council's joint rail working group to a consultation on possible improvements to services and stations between Chepstow and Newport.

Chair of the group, Chepstow councillor David Dovey, said: "We believe that the role to be played by the stations at Chepstow, Caldicot and Severn Tunnel Junction is key to offering public transport services in the south of Monmouthshire that are sufficiently frequent and reliable to attract travellers out of their cars.

"We would like to see public transport being first choice and frequent and reliable services from these stations must be a cornerstone."

The group says services from Chepstow are currently "haphazard" with gaps in the hourly timetable offered by the main service provider Arriva Trains Wales.

They say a regular hourly service could be created now at no cost with a regular and frequent connection with Bristol a priority.

Improvements to the station are essential to attract more travellers including more parking and platforms that are accessible for people with mobility problems and parents with young children.

The group says better parking at Severn Tunnel Junction would attract more people to the railway and that it should be developed as a park and ride station.

A half-hourly service to Bristol could be introduced by having existing services stop at the station and that an early morning direct service to London could be introduced.

The 3.50am Swansea to Paddington could stop at Severn Tunnel Junction around 5.45am, getting to London at 7.30am.

There was also a call for improved facilities at Severn Tunnel with more parking and an improved ticket office and waiting room.

At Caldicot they say travellers would be better served by having an extra train in the morning rather than running the late evening service.

The rail group was responding to a consultation on potential service improvements by SEWTA, the South East Wales Transport Alliance, which co-ordinates transport policy in the region.