The committee wants new stations and a fast-link to the capital

The "25-year vision" from the Western England Rail Passengers Committee calls for better onboard services.

It wants new stations at Portishead, Gloucester, Henbury, Portbury, Ashton Gate and Wotton Bassett.

It also proposes a new-high speed train to operate between London and Bristol cutting the current 90-minute journey to less than an hour.

More investment

The committee is calling for more investment in tracks and carriages, which it claims are becoming worn out as more people in the region opt for train travel.

Amongst the onboard improvements, it wants comfortable seats, hot meals, and new technology for lap top computers.

The group is proposing a new Parkway station for Gloucester, to fill a gap in north-south services.

And it wants an end to the single track section between Kemble and Swindon on the Stroud Valley line, which it claims is slowing services on an increasingly popular commuter route.

The committee describes its vision, which follows consultation with the public and local authorities in the area, as "an ambitious but realistic long term plan".