HOPES of the 701 Aberystwyth to Cardiff bus service being resurrected could rest with private companies, despite Ceredigion County Council saying it will continue talks with other agencies.

The collapse of Lewis Coaches, which operated the service before going into administration, saw the service end with no sign so far of a replacement service being introduced.

Ceredigion AM Elin Jones has called on the Welsh Government and Ceredigion council to work together to ensure a replacement service Ceredigion.

But the county council said it had not had any involvement in providing the service.

A spokesperson said: “The 701 service was provided on a commercial basis by Lewis Coaches and due to this Ceredigion council had no direct involvement in its provision.

“While acknowledging the cessation of this service has an impact on service users it is hoped that, on the basis that there is sufficient demand, another operator will consider providing a 701, or similar, service again at some point in the future.

“However, the authority is not in a position, at this stage, to confirm whether this will be the case.”

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