Concern has been raised over the increase in cancelled and delayed rail services on the Aberystwyth to Birmingham line.

New operator Transport for Wales has apologised after a number of services were affected by recent storms and ageing trains.

AMs Elin Jones and Russell George have called for Transport for Wales to improve and protect services along the Cambrian line.

On one day alone, 26 November, cancelled services included the 06.25 Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth train, the 06.30 Aberystwyth-Shrewsbury train, the 10.29 Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth train and 12.30 Aberystwyth-Shrewsbury train.

Ms Jones said: “Transport for Wales must take emergency measures to protect these services. We have known for a long time of the poor state of the trains and one storm cannot excuse such a terrible service.

"Transport for Wales were very keen to trumpet the recent new contract, but cancelled trains and overcrowded bus replacement services are not acceptable."

Montgomeryshire AM Mr George said: “We were promised by the Welsh Government immediate improvements to Welsh rail services as a result of the new franchise.

“The mood amongst commuters at the moment is that services are actually getting worse.

“This is not the ‘transformational’ improvement to services that Wales was promised.”

The number of trains out of service was “unprecedented”, Transport for Wales added.