Commuter Susan Westlake is collecting names for a petition against the axeing of First Great Western's 7.25am service from Oxford to London Paddington.

Ms Westlake, 23, who lives off Lake Street in West Oxford, is complaining that the service has been cut as part of a new timetable that comes into place on Monday.

She said the service was ideal to get her into the capital at the right time to reach her English Heritage offices at about 9am.

The 7.25 direct service reaches Paddington at 8.29 but from Monday, passengers will be forced to get a train at 7.05, which gets in at 8.07, or the 7.44 direct service, which gets in at 8.45.

There will now be a 7.23 service, but it stops at every station on the route and does not arrive until 9.11.

Alternatively, passengers could get a Virgin service at 7.16 and change at Reading to get them into London in just over an hour.

Ms Westlake said: "I use the service about four times a week but now the 7.25 is being cut it will mean the other trains in the morning from Oxford will be packed.

"A lot of passengers are upset at the scrapping of this 7.25 service, which gets them into London at just the right time.

"I have been collecting signatures at the station and on the train and 80 people have signed already.

"I expect to get a lot more signatures once the timetable changes and then I will present the petition to First Great Western.

"I am seeking the support of local MPs and I hope to persuade First Great Western to review the decision.

"A lot of people do work on the train and they do not want to change at Reading."

Elaine Wilde, a spokesman for First Great Western, said the company went out to consultation in March on the new timetable.

She added: "We got 900 responses about hundreds of timetable responses across our region and obviously some of the changes are not going to be popular with everyone.

"We are aware that the changes affecting the 7.25 from Oxford have not been welcomed by some passengers, and that some leaflets have been handed out on our trains.

"We will take passengers' views into account when we carry out a review in December 2007.

"We have not cut the number of services going to London at peak times."

Ms Westlake added: "I'm glad First Great Western have noticed that leaflets are being handed out to passengers and I hope they start listening to us."