Scotrail passengers crushed like sardines on Helensburgh services
Jackie Baillie MSP tells Scotrail they need more carriages on that route.
By Lizzie Healey
Constituency MSP Jackie Baillie has called for ScotRail to provide more carriages on the Helensburgh line as photographs show that passengers are being crammed in at rush hour.
The MSP was contacted by a constituent who travelled on a rush hour train from Helensburgh Central. He told her that passengers were being forced to stand for the duration of the journey because of a lack of carriages.
That was on Wednesday 12th December. On 13th December, the exact problem was repeated and this time, a young woman took ill on the train.
The train, which runs between Helensburgh Central and Edinburgh Waverley, was just three carriages long despite it being a peak time service at 07.26 which is used by lots of commuters.
Jackie Baillie has written to ScotRail to highlight the ongoing issues in the area. She has emphasised that thousands of additional naval personnel and their families are expected to move to the area meaning a significant increase in population and consequently additional passengers.
She said: “Passengers are being asked to pay more and more for an unreliable train service and now they are being crammed in like sardines.
“It was so bad that one passenger took unwell on the train due to the excessive heat caused by the lack of space on the three carriage service.
“The Helensburgh train runs to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley meaning it is a vital service for commuters. It is clear that three carriages simply isn’t enough.
“ScotRail must take action to ensure that the appropriate number of carriages is being used on every service.”