Rail survey
Passengers’ views on railway’s value
Rutherglen and Cambuslang train travellers were this week split on the news 90 per cent of fellow commuters were satisfied with ScotRail services.
A survey found nine out of 10 people across Scotland were happy with the service in spring, up from 83 per cent last autumn.
Rutherglen and Cambuslang train travellers were this week split on the news 90 per cent of fellow commuters were satisfied with ScotRail services.
A survey found nine out of 10 people were happy with the service in spring, up from 83 per cent last autumn.
It also means passenger satisfaction with ScotRail has bounced back from a 14-year low to equalling its record highest.
The nationwide study by watchdog group Transport Focus, spoke to more than 1,200 commuters, business and leisure travellers across Scotland.
However, train users in Cambuslang were not as complimentary on ScotRail services as those in Rutherglen.
When we revealed the result of the survey to Cambuslang commuter Kelly McGhee, 32, she was very surprised.
“That’s absolutely rubbish,” she claimed. “We call them ‘Scot-snail’ over here.
“They are always cancelling trains and replacing them with busses, especially on Sundays. They’re always saying there are problems with the signals.”
Kelly, who is both a personal assistant and secretary for a charity, regularly hops on the train to stop off at Bridgeton and Partick.
She added: “I use the train probably about five times a week.
“I use the one in Cambuslang to get to work and once, one of the members of staff was practically shouting at me when I asked them something. So their customer service can be bad sometimes.”
Cambuslang OAP Eddie Coyle, 79, also had a poor experience. He said: “I don’t get the train very often.
“The gap and jump between the train and the platform is too big and it makes them off-putting for older people like myself.
“When I am in Spain, in the Valencia area, they equalise the platform and the floor of the train so they are the same height. They are level unlike here, especially at Glasgow Central and Dalmarnock.”
Isobel McQueeney, 75, of Newton Farm said: “I think the trains are good. I’m retired now so I only go into Glasgow.
“The thing I would say though, is at Newton there are a lot of steps. I have a daughter who is disabled so that can be big task.”
ScotRail’s improvement included a record rating for dealing with delays which increased to 54 per cent and the highest since the survey started 18 years ago.
There were increased ratings for journey times and train frequency, but satisfaction with value for money fell.
And when the Reformer took a trip along to Rutherglen Train Station, commuters found ScotRail’s services to be pleasantly adequate.
Newton Farm resident and primary school teacher Louise McIntyre, 34, said: “I’m quite happy with the trains. They’re reliable, at least when they are cancelled, which they sometimes are, they tell you so you can make alternative arrangements. I don’t drive and we have used them over the summer, I’ve only had a two-minute delay so they seem to have improved.
“The train inspectors are really good too. I think it’s value for money because we got the bus the other day and it was dearer than the train.”
Lorraine Smith, 52, from Rutherglen, added: “Genuinely it is quite a good service from Rutherglen, it really is. The only thing I would say is, I work shifts so a Sunday service doesn’t start till after 9am. So if I am starting early it’s the bus for me. Time-wise they can be a few minutes late here and there.”
Supermarket worker Ted Hughes, 52, said: “I’ve very rarely been delayed and the value is really good. I’m from Rutherglen but I stay in Cardonald. So I’m here visiting my mum and for £3.50 from there to Rutherglen I think is great.”