Plans to axe rural rail services have been condemned by MPs from across the Midlands.

The Strategic Rail Authority was under fire after it warned services would be cut because trains were running almost empty.

The issue was one of the first to be raised by MPs on their return to the House of Commons following the long summer break.

Earlier this year the SRA unveiled plans to axe the Wolverhampton to Walsall, Stoke to Stafford and Stafford to Nuneaton services.

A coach service will replace the Wolverhampton to Walsall line, but it is thought this will be only temporary.

Wolverhampton MP Rob Marris (Lab Wolverhampton South West) criticised the proposals in an official Commons motion.

He was "deeply concerned" by the changes. "The Wolverhampton to Walsall rail journey time is 13 minutes, which it is only possible safely to match by road when going non-stop and offpeak," he said.

The service was also growing in popularity, he said. "This rail route carried 16 per cent more passengers in 2004 than in 2003," he added.

MPs Mark Fisher (Lab Stoke Central) and Robert Flello (Stoke South) also attacked the changes in a separate Commons motion.

They said: " This will increase traffic congestion and noise", and called on the SRA to reverse the decision.

The proposals are part of the West Midlands Route Utilisation Strategy, published by the Strategic Rail Authority and approved by Secretary of State for Transport Alistair Darling. This sets out the future of the region's rail network up to

As well as measures to cut under-used services, the SRA also plans to deal with overcrowding on the most popular

2011.

lines by increasing costs. Fees at station car parks will go up at peak times to encourage commuters to leave before rush hour. But there could be cheaper rail fares in periods when trains are less used, and trains could also gain extra carriages, with platforms lengthened at a number of stations to accommodate them.

The strategy warns that rail usage in the West Midlands has grown by 44 per cent over the past ten years and demand is set to rise further, partly as a result of developments in Birmingham including the Bullring, and the planned renovation of Arena Central and Paradise Circus.