The auction of rail land at three key sites in Somerset and South Gloucestershire for a total of £1.4 million is the "great West train robbery" a transport campaigner claims.

David Redgewell, South West spokesman for the Campaign for Better Transport says the sites – Henbury station, Frome station goods yard, and land at Station Road, Patchway, should have been kept.

He said land at Frome and Patchway was key to expand parking when extra rolling stock becomes available, while campaigners have been pushing for a passenger service through Henbury.

The land was auctioned by the Department for Transport's subsidiary, British Railways Board with Henbury Station fetching £750,000, the Patchway land £375,000 and Frome £255,000.

The Department for Transport said it consulted local authorities but none was interested, leading Mr Redgewell to call for an integrated transport authority to take over the responsibility.

He said councils would have been able to buy the land cheaper than at a commercial auction.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said it had asked for the former Henbury station not to be sold, but opted not to buy it itself.

A council spokesman said: "We will however continue to carefully monitor the situation."

A spokeswoman for the West of England Partnership, representing Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils said the sale of the station would not hinder its the long- term aspiration to re-open the Henbury passenger line to Bristol Parkway.

She said: "A 2003 study found there was no economic case to reopen the line in the long term but potential new housing development in the area could increase passenger demand and may help improve the case for new services on this line.

"The West of England Partnership will help to ensure any developer gives full consideration to a financial contribution towards a new station at either an alternative site or at the former station site."

Somerset County Council said it had no plan to buy Frome goods yard.

Mr Redgewell claims all the land was vital for rail expansion. He said: "This is nothing less than the great West train robbery."