Wales may be on the track to a second-class rail system, according to a group of MPs.

Welsh Affairs Select Committee members want the Welsh Assembly Government to be allowed to direct the Strategic Rail Authority, which they fear is underselling Wales.

In their report on transport in Wales - published exactly 12 months after the SRA was formed to improve the UK rail network - the MPs call on UK ministers to guarantee Welsh funding.

Martyn Jones: Welsh Affairs select committee chair

The authority unveiled in January 2002 a 10-point plan to achieve its goals.

But the select committee appeared to question the authority's commitment to Wales, criticising its assertion "incremental improvements" were needed rather than a major overhaul.

"We were concerned that the SRA regarded Wales as having a comparatively low priority for infrastructure investment," its report said.

It also notes that bidders for the new Wales rail franchise were asked to draw up plans for a 20% cut in subsidy funding.

That raised MPs' fears about a possible cut in train services across Wales.

They want the SRA's target of 50% passenger growth replaced by regional aims, as they believe it could meet that goal by concentrating only on the south east of England.

Speaking at news conference held on board a train, Labour MP for Clwyd South Martyn Jones, chair of the select committee, expressed his concerns about the situation.

"You have a situation with a limited amount of money and a UK national organisation, with huge pressures from the south of England with huge numbers of communters every day and very poor rolling stock and all the problems of the south east.

"There has got to be a temptation for that organisation to forget about the regions," he said.

Service cuts

The politicians also want facilities upgraded at Holyhead on Anglesey and at Cardiff's bus and rail stations.

They even suggested the creation of a north-south air link across Wales.

Transport in Wales is the responsibility of Environment Minister Sue Essex and the Welsh Assembly Government at Cardiff Bay.

But the Westminster MPs' warning may find favour with Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, who is already angry over Wales and Borders' decision to cut services to England after the Wales Six Nations clash in February.