MSP to meet Scotrail boss over train delays and cancellations
Scotrail train running through Bowling.
Scot Rail’s Managing Director, Alex Hynes, will be meeting with local MSP Jackie Baillie next week to discuss recent complaints from passengers about poor train services.
The Dumbarton MSP will use the meeting on 17th November to demand action following several days of disruption for local commuters in recent weeks. Passengers have taken to social media to highlight cancellations, station skipping and overcrowding on services from Helensburgh, Dumbarton and Balloch.
Passengers in Cardross continue to be worst affected by station skipping, where late-running trains skip stops in order to arrive at their destination on time, despite a promise from ScotRail in November to abolish the practice during rush hour. Services have failed to call at Cardross on several occasions in recent weeks, including the 17.26 service from Helensburgh Central which is in direct contradiction to the no-rush hour skipping pledge. Last week saw disruption at Dumbarton Central on 31st October and 1st November when trains were cancelled due to ‘congestion’ and when a train appeared it was only three carriages so people were crammed in like sardines during the rush hour.
ScotRail announced extra carriages on some Airdrie – Balloch trains from the next timetable change in December following months of pressure from Jackie Baillie. This line is one of the top ten busiest services in Scotland but ScotRail has reduced the number of carriages on several local services over the past couple of weeks, causing severe overcrowding on rush hour services.
Jackie Baillie said: “I look forward to meeting Alex Hynes and putting the case for a better rail service in Dumbarton, Helensburgh and Vale of Leven. Local passengers have put up with cancellations and late-running, overcrowded services for far too long.
“The fact that passengers in Cardross and now Dumbarton are still being affected by station-skipping a whole year after Scotrail promised to abolish the practice is extremely disappointing.
“Scottish Labour called on the SNP Government to introduce a freeze on train fares because regular commuters are fed up of paying over the odds for a poor service. With ticket prices set to rise by 3.6% in the new year, it’s time passengers got a better deal from ScotRail.”
Cardross Station where ScotRail trains sometimes fail to stop.