Eleven Labour MPs have signed a motion in the House of Commons condemning a train company's decision to cut services following a Six Nations rugby match.

The MPs' intervention follows a row over Wales and Borders Trains' decision to cancel all services running towards London and the west of England after the Wales v England match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Kevin Brennan has signed an early day motion

The politicians are urging the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) to put pressure on Wales and Borders Trains to provide a service to England following the match on 22 February.

But the company has so far refused to alter its position, saying it fears that fans will be crushed when 28,000 people try to catch trains home after the game, which has been given a late 1730 GMT kick-off time.

The Commons early day motion states: "This House...believes that it should be perfectly possible to provide a safe pre-bookable rail service with reserved seats after the match.

"(The House) believes also that this is no way to run a railway and calls on the Strategic Rail Authority to step in and compel the train operators to provide an adequate and safe service."

The group of 11 MPs tabling the motion includes Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan, Wayne David and Win Griffiths, the members for Caerphilly and Bridgend.

Meeting

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain met the chairman of the SRA, which co-ordinates the UK's rail network, for talks on Wednesday.

But he talks failed to find a solution to the problem which could see thousands of rugby fans - many of them from England - being forced to travel home by road.

Mr Hain has called the row a "poor advertisement for Wales".

Speaking after his meeting with Richard Bowker, chair of the SRA, Mr Hain said: "I want to see a "can do" attitude to this from the rail companies and I'm sure that a solution could be found, if not necessarily for the end of February, then, for the longer term."

Peter Hain wants a reversal of Wales and Borders Trains' decision

Mr Hain said he will now wait to hear of the SRA's further investigations and assessment of the situation.

The rugby match, which is being broadcast live by the BBC, has been scheduled for a late kick-off by the Six Nations organising committee.

The later match time was decided on to avoid a clash with the Italy v Ireland game which is due to be televised earlier in the day.

The Millennium Stadium Events Liaison Group has urged fans to travel by coach because of the uncertainty over the train services.

Safety

Managing Director of Wales and Borders Trains, Chris Gibb, said he was acting in the interests of passenger safety.

He added: "Six Nations games generate more rail passengers than any other event and it is the responsibility of all parties involved to ensure that fans can travel to these events easily and safely.

"We will be providing an intense train service from Cardiff to Swansea and beyond, on the Valley Lines network, services to Cwmbran, Pontypool, Abergavenny, Hereford and stations to Crewe.

"There will also be a regular shuttle to Newport until late into the night.

"We will also provide additional services on the Sunday for fans who decide to stay overnight in south Wales."