A morning commute with bells on - Morris dancers help celebration at Shrewsbury Railway Station

A scenic train line that was at risk of closure in the 60s has celebrated its 150th anniversary.

And the milestone was marked with a ceremony at Shrewsbury Railway Station, featuring a performance by a troupe of dancers, followed by a special journey along the Heart of Wales line to Swansea.

Mayor of Shrewsbury Jane MacKenzie was also in attendance. She said: “I’m so proud that this line starts and finishes in beautiful Shrewsbury. It has provided a lifeline for people living in England and Wales.

“It’s even more impressive because it was miraculously saved from being axed by Beeching in the 1960s because it carried freight, and now today, it is going from strength to strength.”

The service is now run by Arriva and takes in 121 miles of Welsh countryside.

Tom Joiner, managing director of Arriva Trains Wales, paid tribute to the volunteers who run and manage a number of stations along the route.

“There’s some great examples of lovely kept stations between here and Swansea and that’s all down to volunteers,” he said. “We’re really proud of the line and we know that it is one of the most scenic lines in the country. It’s just fantastic.”

Guests boarded the 10.09am train in Shrewsbury and arrived in Swansea at 14.25 and enjoyed refreshments and entertainment along the way.

Paul Salveson, from the Heart of Wales line development company, said the “best is yet to come”.

He added: “I think in the next 10 to 15 years we will see a transformation for this line. Arriva Trains Wales has done a great job of working with the community and promoting this wonderful line.

“It’s a special line and means so much to all of us.”