The Heart of Wales line, which runs between Shrewsbury and Swansea and passes through mid-Wales, will see additional trains for six weeks starting Sunday, August 3, as part of a pilot scheme.
Professor Stuart Cole, chairman of the Heart of Wales Line Travellers’ Association (HOWLTA), said: “We hope that the extra trains will be well used and will encourage people to leave their cars at home and explore the towns and villages along the varied 120-mile route.”
The line is widely considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, as recognised by National Geographic and Conde Nast Traveler.
Despite the new services, HOWLTA has raised concerns about a lack of promotion, noting that there has been no publicity at stations or on the Transport for Wales (TfW) website.
The pilot scheme will help TfW assess demand and explore the potential for more frequent services in the future.
TfW has indicated it plans to extend the additional Sunday trains in 2026, based on findings from the trial.
A recent HOWLTA report to the Union Connectivity Review, led by transport minister Lord Peter Hendy, revealed that 87 per cent of visitors to mid-Wales currently travel by car.
With 37 per cent visiting for walking, cycling, and other active travel activities, the association believes there is strong potential to encourage more visitors to use the train instead.