Consultation on cuts continues until 8 March

Many branch lines will have fewer trains running once the new franchise, won by First Group, begins in December.

Cornwall's Looe line will have a drop in daily services from 26 to 16, and Devon's Ivybridge line from 24 to 10.

David Jamieson said taxpayers cannot continue to subsidise services which are not popular.

'Critical time'

He said: "The truth is that people are not using these services to the extent to make them economic.

"You cannot expect the taxpayer to continue subsidising these lines at very considerable cost.

"It may be better to improve bus services and local taxis rather than put money into these trains."

He accepted that the service between Ivybridge and Plymouth, which is seeing increased usage, was important for cutting road congestion.

He said: "It is a very critical time. I would very much regret those lines being closed, but they will close unless people are actually using them."

Passengers are being consulted on the changes until 8 March.

We do promise to look in detail at each proposal Alison Forster, First Great Western

Responses should be sent to Timetable Consultation, First Great Western, Milford House, Swindon SN1 1HL, or via e-mail to tt06@firstgroup.com.

First said the cuts were in accordance with government specifications for regional services.

It has committed to invest �200m in station, train, infrastructure and customer service improvements as a part of the new franchise which runs for seven years.

Alison Forster, First Great Western's managing director, said: "Obviously we cannot promise that we will be able to make every suggested change.

"But we do promise to look in detail at each proposal, consider which we could introduce, and where we cannot change the draft, provide reasons why.

"Most importantly, we need to ensure that any changes meet with the Department for Transport's requirements for the franchise."