Rail chaos fear as services cut

SCOTRAIL has revealed plans to cut services over the Christmas period – sparking fears that overcrowded trains could put passenger safety at risk.

The operator is set to reduce capacity next month, including the five days when travel restrictions will be relaxed over Christmas.

The capacity of services on Scotland’s busiest route, between Edinburgh and Glasgow, will be halved.

ScotRail will operate a severely limited timetable on Boxing Day, which could cause huge demand on December 27, the final day on which travel restrictions will be relaxed.

Scottish Labour transport spokesman Colin Smyth said: ‘The relaxation of the travel rules over Christmas is likely to result in a significant increase in passenger numbers over a five- day period, particularly at the start and end of that period.

‘It is concerning that ScotRail has no plans to lay on additional capacity over these days – in fact we’ll see fewer services than we currently have.

‘It is just not good enough for the SNP Government to pass the buck to ScotRail. Having instituted these measures, ministers have a duty to ensure that ScotRail puts in place

measures which ensure people who need to travel can do so safely.’

ScotRail yesterday said demand is down by 85 per cent compared to last year. The revised timetable will run from December 13, with capacity cut by just under one-fifth. The rail operator insisted that the timetable would ‘more than meet demand’.

Some changes will be introduced from November 30, with services operating only every half hour rather than every 15 minutes between Edinburgh and Glasgow. David Simpson, of ScotRail, said the timetable would deliver a reliable service that ‘better reflects the reduced demand and changing nature of travel’.

He added: ‘Fewer people are travelling during the morning and evening peaks because of more flexible work arrangements.

‘Our targeted approach will deliver more than enough seats to allow customers to travel safely.’

Transport Scotland said that capacity and passenger demand ‘are a matter for ScotRail’.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: ‘Using a targeted approach, ScotRail will deliver enough seats to allow customers to travel safely.’

‘It is just not good enough’