MSP JACKIE BAILLIE BACKS CAMPAIGN AGAINST STATION STAFF CUTS AND TICKET OFFICE CLOSURES

Dumbarton Central Station by Arthur Jones

Helensburgh Central railway station by Joe Porter

By Democrat reporter

Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie, pictured right, has backed the campaign to save local stations from having their opening hours slashed.

Planned cuts proposed by ScotRail and backed by the Scottish Government will see platform ticket offices open less and no staff on duty within the station.

Some stations will see opening hours slashed by more than 80 per cent.

This comes despite fears that the reductions will have a disproportionate effect on female and disabled commuters.

Dumbarton Central, Dalreoch, Alexandria and Balloch stations are all set to be targeted, alongside Cardross and Helensburgh Central.

Staffed hours at Dalreoch station face being cut by 81.1 per cent.

Plans will also see opening hours at Balloch station slashed by 51.7 per cent, with Alexandria facing a 73.5 per cent reduction.

Concerns are widespread as services on the Balloch line have been plagued by anti-social behaviour and widespread youth disruption in recent years.

A multi-agency approach involving ScotRail, British Transport Police and Police Scotland had to be undertaken in a bid to combat difficulties on services and at stations during summer months.

It is feared that staffing reductions at stations will add to the problem and make travellers feel less safe.

ScotRail has denied this and claim that staff are no longer needed at ticket offices due to changes in ticket purchase and falling booking office sales.

Crucially, they argue that staff will not lose their jobs and will be redeployed elsewhere, including aboard rail services, to help passengers.

The SNP’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, pictured left,has backed the move.

This comes despite an earlier investigation into the safety of women and girls on public transport establishing that females travelling aboard public transport in Scotland find themselves in a “constant state of vigilance” and “always looking over their shoulder”.

The Transport Scotland study, commissioned in 2023 by the SNP’s then Transport Secretary, Jenny Gilruth, found that female commuters often adapted their behaviour, including wearing flat shoes to give them a fighting chance of running away from trouble.

Incredibly, the report also found that: “At stations, women spoke about feeling more comfortable if ticket offices were open and staffed (especially later at night) and also if there were staff close to or in waiting room areas.”

Women and rail staff also spoke of a lack of confidence in railway police service the British Transport Police, in responding to difficulties and pointed to reductions in officer ranks of both BTP and Police Scotland in undermining confidence.

Female rail workers also voiced fears over stations not being staffed at night when they were finishing their shifts, especially if carrying cash from on-board services.

Amongst the report’s conclusions was that: “well-lit and staffed stations provided the greatest comfort”.

Disabled commuters have also voiced fears over the impact of platform staffing on their ability to continue travelling by rail.

Dumbarton Labour MSP Jackie joined members of rail workers’ union the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), at Balloch station this week to highlight their campaign against the cuts.

The union believes that the plans will lead to stations becoming less safe for all passengers – especially female travellers – and remove deterrents to violence, harassment and anti-social behaviour.

Jackie, who is also Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, said: “I was delighted to join members of the TSSA union in their efforts to fight these proposed cuts at Balloch station, which has been heavily impacted by anti-social behaviour and disorder.

“I am clear that these plans will have a disproportionate impact on female and disabled commuters, as well as providing a less safe environment for all.

“I have pointed this out to the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, who appears to be in agreement with ScotRail’s planned cuts.

“It is a nonsense to say that this move will lead to more staff being available aboard trains to help passengers and to say that it will not lead to job losses in the long term.

“I am utterly opposed to these drastic cuts to staffed hours at our station platforms and call on the SNP Government to end these deeply unpopular plans.”

ScotRail is proposing to cut hours at a number of stations within the constituency.

* Alexandria faces a 73.5 per cent reduction in weekly hours, with proposed hours being: 6.45am until 9.45am Monday to Thursday, 6.45am until 9.45am on Fridays and 9.15am until 2.45pm on Saturdays, the booking office would be closed on Sundays.

Current hours at Alexandria are 6.45am until 7.39pm Monday to Thursday, 6.45am until 7.39pm on Friday and Saturday and closed on Sunday.

Balloch faces a 51.7 per cent cut to opening hours, with new proposal for opening from 6am until 12.40pm Monday to Thursday, 6am until 7pm on Friday, 7am until 7pm on Saturdays and 9am until 4.30pm on Sundays.

Dalreoch’s proposed hours will see an 81.1 per cent cut, opening from 56.45am until 9am Monday to Thursday, 7am until 8.30am on Fridays, 9am until 2.15pm on Saturdays and Sunday closure.

Dumbarton Central sees a 31.6 per cent cut, closing at 8pm during the week and 4pm on Sundays.

Helensburgh Central will be cut by 26.0 per cent cut, opening from 5.55am until just 7pm Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm on Saturdays, and 7.50am to 10.30pm on Sundays.