A shortage of drivers has led to a service reduction on a key bus route in Ceredigion that will “seriously impact people’s ability to get to work.”

Six journeys on the TrawsCymru T1 service between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen were temporarily axed from Tuesday, 31 August after the company announced that a driver shortage had meant changes had to be made.

While businesses also struggle amid a shortage of HGV drivers - with post-Brexit migration rules and the coronavirus pandemic blamed for the shortfall - Ceredigion MS Elin Jones said that a loss of services due to falling bus driver numbers will have a “serious impact” on local residents.

“Driver shortages have already affected our bin collection and food supply, now it’s our local bus services,” Ms Jones said.

“These changes will seriously impact some people’s ability to get to work and essential services.”

First Cymru - which operates the TrawsCymru route - said that the axing of six of the journeys on the route would be reviewed “on a fortnightly basis.”

“Due to driver shortages we will be reducing the number of journeys that we operate on our T1 Service on a temporary basis with effect from Tuesday, 31 August,” the company announced last week.

“From 31 August, some journeys will not be operating on our T1 service from Monday to Saturday.

“Sunday times will remain unchanged.

“We will review the situation on a fortnightly basis.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this causes.”

The 10.05am, 12.05pm and 5.05pm services from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth and the 7.40am, 12.40pm and 2.40pm services from Aberystwyth to Carmarthen are no longer running until the situation is resolved, TrawsCymru said.

The Welsh Government-funded T1 service, which links Aberystwyth and Carmarthen via Lampeter and Aberaeron, was introduced by TrawsCymru in 2014.

The move came after Arriva Buses Wales left the route after cutting three services and shutting a depot in Aberystwyth and bus stations in New Quay, Lampeter and Dolgellau with the loss of 33 jobs just before Christmas in 2013.

Arriva said it was forced to withdraw from the route due to public transport funding cuts and rising fuel costs.

The new T1 service was welcomed by passengers when it was launched seven years ago, with the-then Transport Minister Edwina Hart saying the service “will not only connect the three main towns but will also connect smaller rural communities in north Carmarthenshire and south Ceredigion providing much needed access to employment and services.”

The updated T1 timetable will still see 10 services each way between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen retained while the driver shortage issue is addressed with the earliest and latest services of the day remaining unaffected.

Early morning services between Lampeter and Carmarthen will also continue to run.