LLANDYBIE community councillors have expressed disappointment at the response they have received from Arriva train company to their calls for more coaches on the free Heart of Wales Line service from Swansea to Shrewsbury.

The issue had been raised by Saron-based county councillor Peter Cooper, who said the train – which enables pensioners with bus passes to travel free of charge – was a victim of its own success.

“It has only one coach and by the time the train reaches Llandybie or Llandeilo, you’re unable to get a seat,” he told colleagues last November.

Arriva have now said they will provide more coaches “depending on demand” – but councillors felt this response was less than satisfactory and claimed they were being “fobbed off”.

Cllr Nesta Price commented: “How will they know how many people will be travelling? This isn’t really an answer at all.”

County councillor Sian Thomas said the local authority was pursuing the issue. “We’ve had lengthy discussions with Arriva – and we’re still unable to get a straight answer fromthem,” she added.

Cllr Cooper said it appeared that the only times Arriva laid on an extra carriage was for special occasions.

Council chairman Ian Llewelyn felt this was “a missed opportunity” as far as Arriva were concerned. “You’d like to think they’d react to certain events,” he said. “It’s disappointing.”

The council agreed to a suggestion by county councillor Anthony Jones that they should ask Arriva for the amount of footfall at certain stations.