There has been a big increase in the number of passengers using the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth line, undermining the Government's "vision" which predicted no growth on the line at all.
Latest official figures show that there has been a 50% increase in passengers between 2003 and 2009 on the line.
Yet in 2003 the Government let the franchise on the basis of no growth and no investment.
Now rail campaigners insist that the Government should review their decision and clear the way for a proper investment plan.
"We have consistently argued that the franchise agreement has got it all wrong and investment is needed to cater for long-term growth which shows no sign of abating," said Gareth Marston, chairman of the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Passengers Association. "Action is needed now."
He added: “Despite the well documented problems with the service on the line during this period, passengers are clearly voting with their feet and using the train."
The official figures were released last week by the Office of Rail Regulation.
The figures confirm a massive upsurge in demand for the line which the ORR confirms has extended into the recession.
The year-on-year increase to 2009 was 14.97%.
Aberystwyth now has a third of a million passenger journeys per annum, close to an average of thousand per day.
Welshpool’s usage has increased by 66% from 2003.
The Welsh Assembly Government wants to see an hourly service on the line by 2011 according to its draft National Transport Plan.
Rail users hope this will be introduced without further delay and note that the Assembly’s 2007 reassessment of predicted rail usage - the Wales Rail Planning Assessment - is hopelessly wrong.
It predicted a 40% increase between 2005 and 2026.
The ORR figures show that there has already been an increase of 36% since 2005.
SARPA is a rail user group which covers the line between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth. Its members include regular users from Shropshire, Powys and Ceredigion and further afield. Local town and community councils are also members.
The stations on the line are Welshpool, Newtown, Caersws, Machynlleth, Dovey Junction (all Powys) Borth and Aberystwyth (Ceredigion).
Information from Gareth Marston of SARPA - gareth.marston at btopenworld.com.
The official UK station usage statistics showing every station in Great Britain can be found at ORR
Details of the Wales Rail Planning Assessment can be found at WRPA