A RAIL commuter has launched an online campaign to save the future of the buffet car on an Oxfordshire train route.

Steve Blair, from Grove, wanted to take action after learning First Great Western plans to introduce trains without a buffet area.

As a regular commuter from Didcot to Paddington, he heads straight to the buffet whenever he boards the train.

Mr Blair has asked passengers to pose for selfies with train staff in the buffet car to show support for a dedicated eating area.

The 58-year-old said: “It’s important. A lot of customers use it and deliberately go to the buffet car and not sit down – as sometimes they can’t find a seat anyway.

“The original concept of the buffet was like a Facebook before Facebook was invented. It’s where we go to exchange views and enjoy our journey better.”

Grandfather-of-one Mr Blair, who works as an IT consultant in Hammersmith, set up a Facebook page – #savethebuffet – encouraging passengers to post their pictures.

It now has nearly 2,300 members.

First Great Western will introduce Hitachi Inter City Express trains, that do not include a buffet car, at the end of 2017.

Passengers will instead be able to electronically order food and drink, which will then be brought to their seat.

The plans prompted a 48-hour strike by RMT union members on FGW routes earlier this month.

FGW spokesman Dan Panes said: “Effectively we will be offering a higher quality food and drink service. We do recognise there are people who like to go stand at the buffet for a chat and a drink but that is a small minority.

“We want to look at the people who want to sit down and don’t want to leave belongings and walk down four carriages to a buffet.”

Mr Panes added the buffet staff would not lose their jobs, and more people would be hired for the new system.