But changes to off-peak fares have been welcomed by other campaigners as a way of boosting the Oxford to Bicester line.

First Great Western has announced a range of reductions to fares across Oxfordshire, including cuts in peak and off-peak fares between Bicester and Oxford, and from Oxford to Banbury.

From Sunday, the cheap day return fare between Bicester and Oxford will be cut from £4.50 to £2, the peak day return reduced from £4.80 to £3.90 and a standard weekly season ticket slashed from £17.20 to £15.

Ox Rail Action spokesman Susan Westlake, who lives in South Oxford, said the announcement was a publicity stunt and did not address the needs of most passengers.

Miss Westlake, who works in London, said: "The people who largely make up our group are commuters and we have season tickets.

"The price of season tickets is going up and up and up so this is not going to affect us in any way at all.

"It's a token gesture that doesn't affect peak-time travellers."

Miss Westlake, who lives in South Oxford and works at a heritage agency in London, added First Great Western should sort out problems with its timetable instead.

But Ian East, spokesman for the Oxford-Bicester Rail Action Group, welcomed the new fares.

He said: "I am just overjoyed about the off-peak fares because that's where we really need to encourage people to use the line.

"This is exactly what we want to see. With these fares it's a no-brainer now to take the train from Bicester."

FGW customer services director Glenda Lamont said: "One of our main aims has been to attract people to rail travel and reducing the price for off-peak travel is one way of doing this."