The main casualties:

• Oxford - Bristol Temple Meads: All 18 trains are being withdrawn on First Great Western or Thames Trains' routes that previously called at Didcot, Swindon, Chippenham and Bath Spa.

  Two changes (Didcot and Swindon) may now be required for some Oxford-Bristol journeys.

  The number of trains calling at Didcot will be addressed in the September 2003 timetable review.

• Manchester Airport - Crewe: 32 Central Trains' services are being axed on this stretch because of low customer usage, leaving one train per hour running.

  The services would be unable to operate anyway for May to Sept 2003 due to West Coast main line upgrade work, says the SRA.

• Derby - Birmingham: 12 of Central Trains' services that previously called at Derby, Willington, Burton, Tamworth, Wilnecote and Water Orton are being withdrawn - leaving four trains per hour.

• Southampton - Bournemouth: 30 South Central services are being axed on this stretch of the London-Bournemouth route, leaving four trains per hour.

  The stations hit are Brockenhurst and Bournemouth, although South West Trains may operate an additional morning peak service between these two stations to help out.

• In addition, from May 2003, there will be a number of changes to Virgin Cross Country services:

  No fundamental change to the core "Princess" network between Birmingham and Bristol, Reading, Sheffield and Manchester.

  But some stations, including Solihull and Gloucester, will be skipped by some trains.

  Some trains will also be reduced on the "fringe" of the core network, with fewer east coast trains to Scotland via York, for instance.

  A small number of trains from Birmingham to the West Country, south Wales and Brighton, will also go.