Sir,

Tenby may well be the most-used railway station in south Pembrokeshire (Observer report, March 7, 2014), but its decline in passenger numbers in the past year is worrying, and goes against the UK-wide increase of 3.3 per cent, as noted by figures compiled for the Office of Rail Regulation.

The rail service in south Pembrokeshire faces a number of challenges in the coming years, but these may also be seen as opportunities to improve the services currently on offer. Action, however, must be taken immediately.

Arriva Trains Wales's current franchise ends in 2018. Now is the time to lobby for more services - and the flexibility to add to these during the lifetime of the new franchise, whichever company controls it - and better quality rolling stock, too: journeys taken on old and basic trains cascaded down from the Cardiff Valleys are, sadly, memorable for all the wrong reasons.

In addition, electrification of the main line from Paddington to Swansea, promised for completion in 2017, would seem to spell the end for the direct summer Saturday services to and from London and Saundersfoot, Tenby and Pembroke Dock. What effect will that have on tourism here? What guarantees can be given that similar links will continue post-electrification?

Rail transport plans for the coming decades are being shaped now, and it will be a lost opportunity if improvements in frequencies, comfort and connections are not secured by our public representatives.

They should grasp this opportunity and not watch while rail transport in the area is shunted into the sidings.

Lawrence Hourahane,

Trafalgar Road,

Tenby.