Rail passengers hit by “devastating” cuts as ‘temporary timetable’ launches
Dunblane #Dunblane
Rail passengers across Stirling are facing fresh disruption as a new ‘temporary timetable’ came into force this week.
The timetable has been introduced due to an ongoing dispute with unions over the issue of drivers’ pay, with almost 700 train services across Scotland cut back.
For passengers travelling through Stirling, Dunblane and Bridge of Allan stations, the impact can be seen in the lack of availability of services beyond peak times.
As an example, the final train leaving Glasgow Queen Street calling at Stirling departs at 7.49pm, compared to the previous timetable which had a final service from Glasgow to Stirling at 11.10pm.
The services departing Edinburgh for Stirling during the week have also been scaled back, with the last train at 8.03pm, more than three hours earlier than the old timetable, which had the final service from Edinburgh to Stirling leaving at 11.34pm.
The possible impact of the changes on Stirling-based commuters and businesses has led one MSP to claim that the Scottish Government’s recent takeover of ScotRail had already “hit the buffers”.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alexander Stewart – who lives in Bridge of Allan – said: “The SNP took over the running of our rail service on April Fool’s Day but for Scotland’s passengers, these cuts to services are no joke.
“These cuts will also be devastating for businesses in Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane and all over Scotland, many of whom are still reeling from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and they risk facing another lost summer.
“Stirling to Edinburgh and Glasgow routes also face bearing the brunt of these changes. Indeed, the Night Time Industries Association says that the cuts will put at risk ‘both Scotland’s economic recovery and the future of many thousands of small businesses and jobs’.
“With such terrible handling of the negotiations by the SNP when can passengers expect normal service to resume?
“Last month, the First Minister proclaimed that nationalising ScotRail was a ‘new beginning’ that would deliver ‘a railway for the nation’ but after just seven weeks, nationalisation is already proving a disaster and has hit the buffers.”
Fellow Conservative MSP Dean Lockhart added: “As a local MSP, I have been inundated with correspondence from constituents regarding the lack of services. There are now no trains running at times people use for work or social travel.
“For example, the last train between Glasgow Queen Street and Stirling is now at ten to eight in the evening. The effect these cuts will have on people’s commutes is extraordinary, not to mention the impact on still struggling hospitality businesses.
“Given all of the disruption of recent years, it is quite an achievement that the SNP Government have managed to deliver the worst service in a generation just seven weeks after taking it over.”
Meanwhile, Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed admitted the current situation was “not acceptable” and urged ScotRail and the unions to get around the negotiating table to resume a normal programme of services.
Ms Tweed said: “It is disappointing that this temporary timetable has had to be put in place due to the ongoing pay dispute between Scotrail and ASLEF. There is no doubt that it is disruptive and the situation is not acceptable.
“The Scottish Government have made it very clear to Scotrail that they expect the timetable to return to normal as quickly as possible.
“I share their urgency in seeing this issue resolved so that passenger services can be fully reinstated.”
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “We are very sorry to customers for the disruption of recent days.
“We know what customers want more than anything is certainty and reliability, which is why we are introducing a temporary timetable.
“We want to resolve this dispute with the trade unions and move forward together to provide the safest, greenest, and most reliable railway we can for Scotland.
“We remain open to further talks with the trade unions.”