Pupils hand over train petition

The campaign had a website complete with video

Two 15-year-olds have handed a petition signed by over 1,300 people to the Welsh assembly calling for extra train services to north Pembrokeshire.

Joanne Griffiths and Sam Faulkner have received backing from businesses and residents for their call for greater use of Fishguard station.

There is one train a day in daylight hours but the assembly government is considering plans to boost services.

They have also won support from Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies.

The teenagers, both from Moylegrove, launched the petition calling for more trains between Fishguard and Carmarthen in September.

They collected 1,317 signatures via a dedicated website and paper petitions put up in shops and cafes around Fishguard.

Joanne, who attends Cardigan Secondary School, said: "We started the petition because we want to make rural north Pembrokeshire better connected.

This service is something that is definitely needed in this area Sam Faulkner

"This would also open up north Pembrokeshire, a region that relies heavily on tourism, to holidaymakers and day trippers."

At present there are only two trains a day to and from Fishguard and they are timed to meet the Irish ferry - so one of them leaves at 0130GMT.

Sam, who goes to Ysgol Y Preseli, added: "Given more time we could easily have come up with double the amount of signatures.

"We hope the Welsh assembly will give this serious and careful consideration as this service is something that is definitely needed in this area."

The youngsters presented the petition to Mr Davies who has handed it in the assembly's petitions committee.

He said: "Instead of just complaining about things they have gone ahead and done something proactive.

"I wholeheartedly agree with the petition's aims and lobbied unsuccessfully last year for an extra five trains a day on the route - I hope the petitions committee will listen to their request."

The assembly government said it was currently considering a report about boosting public transport in the area.

Ministers are expected to make a decision before the end of the year.