A petition calling for an increase in trains calling at west Wiltshire stations on a route labelled “unfit for purpose” has attracted more than 300 signatures in three weeks.

The online petition, organised by the Save The Train campaign, aims to see an increase from two to six trains a day on the Swindon to Salisbury route, which stops at Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Dilton Marsh and Warminster.

So far the petition has attracted 307 signatures, including 48 from elected representatives, including parish councillors and MEPs.

The petition will run until the end of May, when it will be sent to First Great Western, the Department for Transport and Wiltshire Council.

Campaigner and Melksham businessman Graham Ellis said: "We're very happy with the response so far. The train company, the Department for Transport and Wiltshire Council have all said that they appreciate the current service is unfit, but there has been a lot of passing the buck.

“Now we get the indication they are looking for an overlap. We're getting some serious correspondence from the three key players and I'm very optimistic we're getting somewhere."

At the moment the route only runs twice a day in each direction, once early morning and once in the evening.

Under the proposals this would rise to six times a day, with two morning and afternoon peak trains each way, and two intermediate trains.

John Ingram, chairman of the West Wilts Rail Users Group, said: "First Great Western have improved many of their services that pass through Wiltshire in the last two years, but the service linking the main Wiltshire towns remains unfit for purpose and dramatically worse that it was three years ago.

“The proposals are eminently practical and are what are needed to get the service up and running again."

The petition can be found at www.transwilts.org.uk