Plea for action over hourly train service on Cambrian Line

Campaigners fighting to get the operators of a Shropshire and Mid Wales railway line to run an hourly service have called on government officials to act.

Users of the Cambrian Line, which runs from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth, via Welshpool, Newtown and Machynlleth, said they were still waiting for their "promised" hourly service despite the line receiving a £13 million capital investment.

The announcement to upgrade the infrastructure was made four years ago, using £8 million funding from the Welsh Assembly matched by £5 million from Network Rail to improve train reliability and punctuality.

Although the works were completed in March, the introduction of hourly services was further delayed by problems with a new signalling system.

Russell George, AM for Montgomeryshire, said: "The Welsh Government has made the capital investment of £8 million, yet now they seem to not be prepared to confirm the revenue costs for the hourly service for the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth line.

"This is a source of real concern and frustration for the people of Mid Wales and I am calling on the Welsh Government to confirm their commitment to the hourly service."

Gareth Marston, chairman of Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Passenger Association, said the current timetable did not reflect local needs.

"If you are trying to get a job, access further education or higher education, you can't do it by train," he said.

"If Shrewsbury was over the border in Wales it would be the fourth biggest conurbation.

"The first train arrives in Shrewsbury at 7.10am but the next train doesn't arrive until 9.25am."

Mr Marston said a train every hour wasn't essential but services needed to be more frequent at peak times.

A Welsh Government spokesman said a rescheduled delivery plan would be published this autumn and would include the plans for services on the Cambrian Line.

By Andrew Morris