Concerns have been raised by local train-travellers, after learning that Transport for Wales are removing what rail-users have described as an ‘essential service’ on the line.

The train service which pre-Covid, left Carmarthen station around 7 pm for Tenby, originated in Manchester, and connected at Tenby with a service to Pembroke Dock.

“The seemingly permanent removal of this service means that if you miss the 16:51 train to Pembroke Dock at Carmarthen, the next one isn’t until 21:10 - a wait of almost four hours! Is that acceptable?” one local concerned rail-user told the Observer.

“The missing train used to enable you to leave Cardiff at 17:00, and Swansea at around 18:00, and get to Tenby around 19:45 - perfect for a day’s leisure or business in these cities. It also allowed connections from large towns and cities in England.

“So Transport for Wales’s removal of a complete service is a bitter blow for passengers, coming at a time when we are being encouraged to use public transport first and foremost for environmental reasons.

“It is also ironic that it comes just a matter of weeks after the appointment of a new Community Rail Officer for the South West Wales network.

“Once again, we literally seem to be at the end of the line!” they added.

However, there was a bit of good news for train passengers, in that starting from Sunday (December 12) in the new winter table, two late trains have been re-instated, which are:

• 21:10 Carmarthen – Pembroke Dock (Monday – Friday) (Dep Tenby 22:57), 22:27 Pembroke Dock – Carmarthen (Monday – Friday) (Dep Tenby 21:54);

• 21:00 Carmarthen – Pembroke Dock (Saturday) (Dep Tenby 21:43), 2218 Pembroke Dock – Carmarthen (Saturday) (Dep Tenby 22:47).