Rail passengers in the south west will endure overcrowded trains under government proposals for the region's railways over the next ten years, the South West Regional Assembly has claimed.

Some of the Assembly's criticisms of the GW plan:
First train from Weymouth arrives Bristol Temple Meads 0928 (now 0804)
First train from London to Chippenham, Bath, Bristol TM 0806 (now 0729)
First train from London to Gloucester arr. 1001 (now 0845)
Bristol Temple Meads to Exeter St David?s: ten northbound and seven southbound services withdrawn
One train from Plymouth to London in three hours or faster (now five)
No train from Truro to Penzance between 0726 and 1001 (now three)
First train from Bristol Parkway to London leaves more than 1 hour later than now

Responding to the consultation over the Greater Western franchise, the Assembly said people could be forced back on to congested roads, because the Government was not insisting on enough trains to meet increased demand.

The Assembly responded formally on 21 July and published its letter to the SRA on 3 August, the day after the consultation period ended.

Julian Johnson, chairman of the Assembly?s planning and transport group, said: "These sums just won't add up for the south west. Research has shown how important rail services are to the region, especially the far south west. Whether for business, pleasure or leisure, the train is a vital part of our travel network. On average, demand for rail travel in the region increases 5% each year. In busy urban areas like Bristol, demand has increased annually by 10%."

Mr Johnson criticised the rail industry for planning for much lower growth - 1.9%. The Assembly has also condemned proposal within the franchise document for fewer stopping services on the Par to Newquay line and between Exeter and London. Trains from Plymouth will be slower, with just one each day to London in three hours, compared to five now.

There has also been an outcry over the perceived threat to sleeper services between London, Devon and Cornwall, which franchise bidders have been asked to cost separately.

The regional spokesman for transport pressure group Transport 2000 David Redgewell said: "What we need is investment in the railways in the south west. We don't expect a Dr Beeching from Alistair Darling."

The Department for Transport said it "strongly refuted" claims that its proposals were inadequate.

"The projected demand has been carefully estimated," said a spokesman. "We do believe the proposed services meet the forecast demand. There is capacity within the current services. We are trying to improve services, firstly by making trains more reliable - if you change the times it is going to be less congested - and also by matching services more closely to demand."

He said most Plymouth to London trains would be slightly slower because they would stop at more stations, for the benefit of intermediate passengers.

The new Greater Western franchise is due to start in April 2006, when it will replace the present Great Western, Great Western Link and Wessex Trains contracts.