PRIME Minister David Cameron has provided reassurance that he understands that better rail connections are vital to the South West.

The reassurance was given during a meeting with South West Devon MP Gary Streeter and members of the Peninsula Rail Task Force – created to help the region in the campaign for a better deal on railways.

Last week the government announced a review into re-opening the Dartmoor line as an additional route away from Dawlish sea front, which collapsed during the violent storms earlier this year.

However, there were concerns from local MPs that the move would rule out a faster route from the South West.

MP Gary Streeter organised a delegation to Downing Street where the Prime Minister offered to talk to officials at the Department of Trans-port to consider the entire suite of proposals set out by the Peninsula Rail Task Force.

Mr Streeter said: 'This is an important step in our campaign to secure a better transport network.

'There have been some welcome announ-cements about investment this week, but it is important to ensure that our priorities for rail are considered together.

'We can work with Network Rail and other partners to ensure plans can convert into solutions, capable of being delivered in the right sequence and within a realistic timescale.

Chairman of the Peninsula Rail Task Force, Cllr Andrew Leadbetter said: 'We are pleased by the Prime Minister's response. Our rail network is bursting at the seams, lacking in resilience and in serious need of more capacity.

'However, we can't just tackle these issues in isolation.

'Faster journey times need better rolling stock, better signalling and better scheduling.'