Plans to delay the introduction of an hourly train service between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury have been described by councillors as “a blow for the town” and a “broken promise.”

Aberystwyth town councillors have vowed to fight the delay announced by Transport for Wales last week.

The company announced earlier this month that plans for an hourly train service between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury have been pushed back to 2024.

The plans for an hourly service stopping at all stations along the Cambrian Line between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury had been scheduled for 2022.

TfW now say that a consistent one train per hour to all stations service between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury will be delivered by May 2024.

The plans, when brought in, will mean seven extra trains between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury “to meet demand.”

The delay has been blamed on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking at a council meeting last Monday, Cllr Jeff Smith put forward an emergency motion ahead of a stakeholders meeting last Friday, where he argued that the move is a “backward step.”

“We have campaigned for regular hourly services as a council for a long time,” Cllr Smith said.

“The Cambrian Line is a lifeline for the town and the area so it’s very important.

“It’s a very very well used line for such a rural area and this would seem to be a very backward step.

“It is a blow for the town and a broken promise.

“We expect the original timetable to be honoured.”

Cllr Mair Benjamin said the delay was “disgusting”.

“We have pleaded for this for years,” she said.

“A year and a half delay is absolutely crazy.”

Cllr Alun Williams said the delay was “certainly disappointing” and said that the hourly services would bring a “substantial increase” in passengers.

“That’s been shown with figures elsewhere and it’s so important for Aberystwyth,” he said.

Cllr Danny Ardeshir said the hourly service was “truly essential” and could make a difference between whether people decide to use the train or not.

“The campaign for hourly trains has gone on long enough and we should make a fuss about this delay,” he said.

TfW Planning and Performance Director, Colin Lea, said: “It is not unique to us in Wales, but the pandemic continues to have a massive impact on all of us

“We remain confident that we will deliver on the ambitious plans Welsh Government has for transport in Wales, including tackling the climate emergency, and we will continue working with partners for the benefit of the communities throughout Wales and the borders.”

Aberystwyth town council agreed unanimously to write to the chief executive of Transport for Wales and the Climate Change Minister Julie James calling for the delay decision to be reversed.