A public meeting in Llanwrtyd Wells has highlighted residents’ concerns over the reliability and accessibility of services on the Heart of Wales Line.

The meeting, held at Victoria Hall on Thursday, March 20, was organised by the Welsh Liberal Democrats and chaired by the party’s leader and Mid and West Wales MS, Jane Dodds.

Representatives from Network Rail and Transport for Wales (TfW) were present, including Tomos Roberts from Network Rail, Lewis Brencher and Ryan Gerrish from TfW, and Owen Griffkin, Community Rail Officer.

Residents raised a range of concerns, including issues with train reliability, the timetabling of services in Llanwrtyd Wells, and the condition of the town’s station.

TfW representatives said they were keen to work with the community on the timetabling of a fifth service, which was included in the Welsh Government’s 2025 budget as part of the deal struck by Ms Dodds.

Powys councillor for Llanwrtyd Wells, Peter James, highlighted concerns over bus connections, while Mayor of Llanwrtyd, Cllr Martin Piggott asked about increasing bike capacity on the trains.

“We need to make sure we use the Heart of Wales Line as an attraction for active travel, including e-bikes, to get more people in to Powys,” he said.

The Heart of Wales Line is a 121-mile rural railway between Swansea and Shrewsbury via the rural uplands of Carmarthenshire, Powys and Shropshire.

Much loved by day trippers and walkers, the line also provides a vital transport link for rural communities and towns across Mid Wales and the Borders.