By Lucy Ashton
Jackie Baillie has urged the SNP-Green government to intervene after ScotRail confirmed swingeing cuts to services.
ScotRail revealed last Thursday that they are ploughing ahead with plans to drastically reduce services compared to pre-pandemic levels, and will be running 250 fewer trains a day.
This follows a debate led by Labour in the Scottish Parliament in which the new Transport Minister insisted she was in “listening mode”.
Jackie Baillie and Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth.
Labour have urged the new Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth, to take a fresh approach, and called on the Greens to stand by their principles and defend vital rail services.
This announcement comes with the Scottish Government poised to take over running the beleaguered rail service at the start of April.
There are mounting concerns about the state of the service Ministers will be taking over, which has also been hit by proposed cuts to ticket offices, drastic fare hikes, and tense industrial relations.
Dumbarton constituency MSP Baillie said: “Cramped carriages, station skipping and short notice cancellations in Dumbarton, the Vale, Cardross and Helensburgh have unfortunately been a regular feature for passengers here for years.
“There is now a chance for the new Transport Minister to take a fresh approach and for the Green Party to stand up for their principles in government and defend rail.
The main local line between Helensburgh and Glasgow at Cardross.
“These brutal cuts would gut ScotRail just as Ministers take it into public hands, ending hopes for change under public ownership before it has even begun.
“The SNP-Green government must stand up for rail and show they are committed to building a modern railway service that truly puts people first.
“We need a real vision for the new publicly owned ScotRail, built around affordability and accessibility for passengers, collective bargaining and fair pay for staff, and green, modern technology for the planet.”