DESIGNS for a new railway station at Wilton have been unveiled.  The vision for Wilton Parkway has been outlined in a brochure, which includes architects impressions of what the site could look like, which would be built adjacent to the existing Salisbury Park and Ride in Wilton.

It would be on the Salisbury to Bristol line and part of the Trans Wilts route which will run north to south in the county.  The brochure says it would "provide new capacity for passengers to access the National Rail Network using direct trains to London, Southampton, Swindon, Bristol and Cardiff" and support sustainable access to Salisbury with a highly attractive five minute journey time".

The new station would also "offer a fast, high capacity rail-bus link to the World Heritage Site at Stonehenge".

It would have two platforms, able to accommodate six carriage lengths, and be fully accessible with lifts and footbridge.

Southampton Airport has already given its backing to the scheme as a way of creating a “gateway” to Stonehenge.

The brochure said: "TransWilts and Wilton Town Council are pleased to start discussions in 2015 with local stakeholders, Wiltshire Council, the Swindon and Wiltshire LEP, English Heritage, the Department for Transport, Network Rail, First Great Western (GWR) and South West Trains to begin the development of the case for this exciting scheme."

The next steps for the project will be securing more funding for the project.  TransWilts chairman Paul Johnson said the concept has been "well received". He said: "We are really encouraging Wiltshire Council and the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) to get behind it early.  "There is an opportunity right now. Wilton has done well getting us a proposal that the public can see. We are really hopeful at the point that the project can be picked up and taken forward strongly by the LEP."

It is hoped the station could be open in 2019.

Wilton ward councillor Peter Edge said it would help alleviate "congestion" and there were an "awful lot of benefits" in terms of the local economy and tourism.  "Potentially, the skies are the limit for what can happen in and around the area," he said.  "We are looking forward to getting any comments from members of the public - positive or negative."

He hopes the project can get underway in time for the rail franchise renewals. "Time is of the essence to move this forward and get building."