Your views on: Rival train service bid

INDEPENDENT rail firm Grand Union Trains is hoping to launch a rival train service in Wales which they say will slash journey times between Carmarthen and London. Here’s what you thought about it . . .

Huw Jones Sounds good, unless you live west of Carmarthen. The schedule for Fishguard to London is still, as far as I know, 30 minutes slower than it was in 1911. It’s no wonder that Stena Line downgraded their Fishguard-rosslare ferry route even before Brexit.

Bethan Jones How about a train service from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth? We have nothing here at all, buses that run every day but not even hourly any more and the buses need replacing as they are so old and shake and shudder every time they go over any potholes in the road, which also needs resurfacing! It’s a ridiculous situation, and the west has been forgotten again as nothing seems to be done to improve the highways and transport here!

Tom Sharpling It would be great to have competition. I will, however, believe it when I see it.

Peter Stewart I travel from the south coast of England to Carmarthen once or twice a year to visit my parents. Anything that makes that journey quicker or cheaper is good for me. It currently takes most of the day and three different trains to get there.

Roger Thomas Great if it works, but would there be enough passengers on the train every day for the company to make a profit? I live in West Wales and I often see the train with very few people on it.

Anne Ormson Let’s hope that the bid suceeds.

Gary Phillips This is an excellent proposition; avoiding central Swansea and Cardiff is a very attractive option for travellers from West Wales. I hope it works. The extra competition ought to reduce prices.

Anthony Cartwright All great news but will I have to remortgage the house to afford a ticket?

David Wright With people increasingly able to work from home, this sort of link could signal the rebirth of Wales as an economic powerhouse by giving fast access for face to face meetings. That would provide high value jobs and quality of life for Welsh school leavers and graduates. That would be real levelling up.