A NEW bus service linking Aberystwyth and Cardiff should be in place by the end of October, a Welsh Government minister has said.

Ceredigion AM Elin Jones had joined calls for urgent action to replace the defunct 701 service which ended in August when operator Lewis Coaches went into administration.

And Ken Skates, the Cabinet secretary for economy and infrastructure, confirmed that work was ongoing between the Welsh Government and Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire county councils to put a replacement service in place.

Mr Skates said it was hoped that the service could start operating at the end of October.

In a letter to Ms Jones, he said: “I am aware of the importance of this service. We are working closely with Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire county councils to put in place arrangements to restore a daily direct bus link between Aberystwyth, Lampeter, Carmarthen, Swansea and Cardiff; it is hoped the service will be restored towards the end of October.”

Ms Jones welcomed the announcement and said it was vital to get the new service in place as soon as possible to ensure the important transport link is resumed.

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