Pensioners in Blaenau Ffestiniog want to use their bus passes on some rail journeys

The scheme would be available in areas where there is no regular bus service, such as between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno.

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said it was awaiting a "detailed business case" from two travel consortia before taking a decision.

But campaigners accused the assembly of delaying the decision unnecessarily.

"I feel it is so unfair that we can't use our bus passes on the train," said Ruth Gilbert, 61, who regularly uses the train to travel from her home in Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno.

"Because I am disabled too I find the train very convenient, especially since the station is so centrally situated when you get to Llandudno.

I really feel this scheme is being thrown into the long grass, the only way we can get this through now is by public pressure Arthur Holland Williams, campaigner

"It would help get more cars off the road, and there are so many older people in Blaenau now there is definitely a need for it," Mrs Gilbert added.

No decision

Councillor Arthur Holland Williams as member of the Chester and North Wales Rail Users' Association has been campaigning for the change since 2002.

"I can't believe the assembly are saying they are only at the stage to ask for a detailed business case," he said.

"My understanding was that they were at the stage that they just needed the minister's go-ahead, I really feel this scheme is being thrown into the long grass, the only way we can get this through now is by public pressure," Mr Williams added.

A spokesman for the assembly government confirmed no decision would be made until detailed business plans had been studied.

These plans are currently being put together by regional travel consortia TAITH (which covers Gwynedd) and TrACC (which covers Powys and Ceredigion) along with Arriva Trains Wales, the spokesman added.

The Conwy Valley line, from Blaenau to Llandudno, is covered by the Conwy Rail Initiative, which also support the scheme.

"We would appreciate anything which gets more people onto the railway," said Larry Davies, community rail officer with the initiative.