A NEW timetable for trains on the Marches line will leave stations between Hereford and Shrewsbury with a “significant gap of two hours” without a southbound service.

On Monday, Transport for Wales will introduce a new, faster service between Cardiff and Holyhead which will see the journey time at four hours 30 minutes between Monday and Friday.

But as the train returns from north Wales to the Welsh capital in the afternoon, passengers for Church Stretton and Craven Arms from Shrewsbury will have to travel on a replacement bus service.

A spokesperson for Transport for Wales said there would be a re-timed service slightly later for Ludlow.

“We made a commitment to introduce a new Cardiff to Holyhead service departing from Cardiff Central before 7.30am,” the spokesperson added.

“To achieve this we were not able to accommodate the stops between Hereford and Shrewsbury due to the impact it will have on other existing services in the area at that time in the afternoon.

“We've made every effort to accommodate stops at these stations and the introduction of a replacement bus service to serve the affected stations is a workable solution to what was a complex issue to resolve.”

“This replacement bus service will be accessible for wheelchairs users, prams and pushchairs but, should the occasion arise when we cannot provide access to the service, alternative arrangements will be made, such as a taxi or minibus.”

Bikes will not be permitted on the bus service, which will take more than an hour to reach Ludlow from Shrewsbury, instead of 30 minutes on the train.

“We will continue to do all we can to address this with a rail solution in the May 2020 timetable change,” they added.

“We recognise that, in introducing this service in December, there will be a change in calling pattern at Church Stretton, Craven Arms and Ludlow, resulting in a significant gap of two hours in the afternoon.”

The new timetable comes into force on Monday and customers are advised to check before they travel.