PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb has called for a new express rail service linking Pembrokeshire to Cardiff to open up wider employment opportunities for local people.

Responding to the UK Government’s consultation on potential changes to the Great Western rail franchise, Mr Crabb said: “Currently the early morning weekday service from Haverfordwest takes approximately two hours 30 minutes to reach Cardiff. This is simply too long to enable many Pembrokeshire residents to take advantage of increasing employment opportunities in the Cardiff area.

“I support the calls for a new Swansea Parkway station if it reduces journey times significantly. But a more cost effective approach may be to create an express service with a reduced number of stops on the route for one morning service Monday to Friday.

“There is a growing number of Pembrokeshire people who drive each day to work in Swansea and Cardiff. A fast, high quality rail service would reduce car use, improve our environment, and expand economic opportunities for people in this corner of Wales.”