Great Western trains to Paddington are quicker but more costly

Passengers can save money by travelling from Wales to the London station of Waterloo, instead of the more common destination of Paddington.

The Waterloo service takes longer, but passenger watchdogs have warned that it is facing the axe because it is so under-used.

Mark Youngman, deputy secretary of the Rail Passengers' Committee for Wales, said he had heard the Waterloo route described as "one of the best-kept secrets", as people were genuinely not aware the service existed.

Wales and Borders Trains runs the services to Waterloo.

When we do surveys, everyone normally wants the quickest route Association of Train Operating Companies

The Waterloo trains take longer but cost less than those of its rival First Great Western, which operates in and out of Paddington.

Unaware

The Rail Passengers' Committee for Wales fears that because many passengers are unaware of the Waterloo route, they are not using it and it could be abandoned.

People who call the National Rail Enquiries helpline asking about trains from South Wales to London, without specifying a route, are automatically given details of services to Paddington.

First Great Western runs 29 services each way a day between Cardiff and Paddington, with the journey taking around two hours 10 minutes.

An Apex return ticket, bookable seven days in advance, costs �23.50, with a standard open return costing �99.

Wales and Borders Trains run four return services a day to Waterloo from south Wales and Manchester.

Informed

The trip between Cardiff and Waterloo takes three hours 35 minutes, and tickets cost between �21 for an Apex ticket to �41.90 for a saver ticket.

The service to Waterloo is due to be reviewed next May, and Mr Youngman said there were fears it would stop running from south Wales and start in Bristol instead.

He said the committee had been aware for a while that passengers were being informed only of the Paddington route.

The possibility that the cheaper, albeit longer, way might not exist after next year means it has become an issue again.

"The more people that use the Waterloo route the more likelihood there is that it will continue," he said.

The Association of Train Operating Companies, which gives information to passengers, said it had always been the case that when people inquired they would be given the quickest route.

"When we do surveys, everyone normally wants the quickest route," said a spokesman for the association.