Railway bosses have refused to bow to pressure from the Welsh Secretary to reintroduce services after a February rugby international in Cardiff.

Train services after the Wales v England international in February to London and other destinations in England run by rail operators from the Welsh capital will be severely limited.

An independent risk assessment warned of "serious risks to public safety" concerning thousands of rugby fans trying to board trains after the international, which has an evening kick-off.

Eleven MPs had signed a House of Commons motion condemning the move and calling on the Strategic Rail Authority to force the firm to reverse its decision.

Six Nations fixtures

Feb 15 - Italy v Wales (1330 GMT) Feb 22 - Wales v England (1730 GMT) Mar 8 - Scotland v Wales (1600 GMT) Mar 22 - Wales v Ireland (1400 GMT) Mar 29 - France v Wales (1300 GMT)

More news on Six Nations build-up

Wales and Borders - the operator responsible for Cardiff Central station - and rail companies announced they would severely cut journeys on the evening of the Six Nations clash on 22 February.

There will be no services after 1900GMT east of Newport on trains heading for Gloucester, Bristol, Southampton or London.

But the company will run increased services to destinations within Valleys for Wales fans, to Swansea, the South Wales Valleys and Gwent Valleys.

A Wales and Borders spokesman said: "We have always said to broadcasters and organisers that any game starting after 1600GMT causes significant problems to rail operators.

"It is not as simple as saying 'lay on more trains'. There is not an infinite supply of additional trains and the situation has to be carefully managed."

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, who met the authority and Wales and Borders, told the House on Wednesday his efforts had come to nothing, leaving England fans stranded in Cardiff.

The SRA and the transport minister told Mr Hain on Tuesday.

"This is a bitter disappointment," he said during question time.

"The rail companies have failed abysmally to provide the standard of service that Wales and Cardiff expect.

"I have told them they had better get their act together in the future."

Crush fear

After an independent assessment, Wales and Borders said it feared the unconventional 1730 GMT kick-off could cause a crush at the station, across the road from the stadium.

FA Cup spectators have used Cardiff Central

The company "will not compromise the safety of travelling fans".

"If the kick-off time were earlier, we would not have to alter services," managing director Chris Gibb said.

The Six Nations committee scheduled the match at peak time for the BBC, which is screening the prized England clash nationwide, but which expressed surprise.

"Evening kick-offs are not unusual at the Millennium Stadium and objections have never been raised before," the corporation said.

Furious Mr Hain stepped in, holding talks with Mr Gibb over fears of Wales' image being dealt a blow.

With the SRA telling him of its inability to direct Wales and Borders, those talks appear to have come to nothing.

Mr Hain had been promised temporary arrangements including extra rail shuttles to Newport to link in with additional coach services.

He added: "The 10,000 English fans who normally return by train will be guaranteed a warm Welsh welcome ... if they decide to stay overnight in Wales."

Coach cover

Labour Rhondda MP Chris Bryant told the Commons train operating companies were failing to provide a service which lets visitors make the most of Cardiff.

"[They] seem to find it impossible to provide a decent railway service after rugby matches at the Millennium Stadium," he said.

"Isn't it time you banged some more heads together to make sure ... that English people don't find it impossible to attend matches at the best stadium in the country?"

The Millennium Stadium earlier urged fans to travel by coach because of the uncertainty over the train services.