Shropshire-to-Mid Wales hourly train service joy

Rail users on both sides of the border have been campaigning for years for an hourly service along the Cambrian Line between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth and the Welsh Assembly has now confirmed the service will start next year.

Supporters say the line will help boost business along the route and help students travelling between the West Midlands and Aberystwyth University.

Four additional return services will operate between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury, calling at Welshpool and Newtown, between Monday and Saturday, with hourly services for peak morning and afternoon times.

There will also be extra journeys arranged for the Heart of Wales line between Llandovery and Gowerton/Swansea and between Llandrindod Wells and Shrewsbury/Crewe.

The new service will create 20 new train crew and depot jobs and the changes, which will be on an initial three-year trial basis, will come into place from May 2015.

Edwina Hart, Welsh Assembly transport minister, said: "I am very pleased that we have been able to secure the extra train services on these two popular lines. I recently commissioned a survey which clearly demonstrated the benefits to commuters, local businesses and university students of an hourly service on the Cambrian Line.

"There is also a clear demand for increased services on the Heart of Wales Line and these improvement will mean commuting journeys into Swansea from this line will be possible for the first time.

"The investment demonstrates our commitment to supporting public transport, which is a vital way for many people, including some of the most vulnerable people in our society, to access jobs and services."

Councillor Mansel Williams, chairman of the Aberystwyth- hrewsbury Railways Liaison Committee and Heart of Wales Line Forum, said he was delighted with the outcome.

He said: "This is excellent news for the people of Mid Wales. Both the Cambrian and Heart of Wales lines provide a vital service for residents, commuters, tourists and students in the area.

"We received a very strong response to our survey about services on the Cambrian main and the coast railway lines, which backed-up the support there has been locally for an hourly service, particularly in the commuting peaks.

"The Heart of Wales Line survey also highlighted the impracticality of commuting with the current timetable, particularly southwards into Swansea.

"I am delighted the Minister and Arriva Trains have been able to find a way to deliver these additional trains which I am sure will provide a significant boost to the Mid Wales and local economy."

Ms Hart added that the Heart of Wales Line Forum will receive a grant of £150,000 to undertake further research into community rail development and alternative local management arrangement for rail services.

The forum will submit a further report to Ms Hart at the end of the year.

• Star comment: Welsh rail setting an example