Herded on like cattle
Scotrail under fire
Rail commuters between Dunblane and Edinburgh have blasted the service as “utterly shocking”.
Frequent passengers on Scotrail services to and from the capital have told of regularly overcrowded services, delays and cancellations on a daily basis.
There have been reports that trains at peak times are so overcrowded that up to a dozen passengers have been forced to stand in toilets to continue their journey.
Disgruntled commuter Susan McMahon said: “I’ve been travelling back and forth now for almost two-and-a-half years and in that time have been part of what I can only describe as utterly shocking customer service.
“The cramped conditions on these trains are surely a health and safety issue.
“It’s not going to be long before there is a death on one of these trains.
“People are literally herded on like cattle.
“I myself have become like an obsessive little ninja waiting to get on, assessing where I think the train is going to stop so that I can get on first and get a seat.
“It’s each to their own, everybody battling against one another, trying to make sure you are not the one having to stand in the toilets, have your face crushed up against another’s armpit.
“It really is indescribable what commuters have to put up with on a daily basis and I can honestly say in my time doing this journey it’s getting worse instead of better.”
Susan said the delays, cancellations and overcrowded services have left her considering giving up her job as a branch manager in Edinburgh City Post Office to find a job locally.
She said: ”I really enjoy my job but have to admit to looking for something closer to home as I really am close to reaching the end of my tether”.
Mid–Scotland and Fife MSP Alexander Stewart regularly uses the service to travel from his home in Bridge of Allan to the Scottish Parliament and described the overcrowding on services as “abhorrent”.
Mr Stewart said: “In this day and age train overcrowding on this scale, coupled with repeated cancellations, skip-stopping and poor punctuality, is absolutely unacceptable.
“Not only is overcrowding uncomfortable, it’s immensely dangerous and wholly abhorrent.
“Indeed, for passengers who are already subjected to some of the highest fares in Europe to then suffer such a kick in the teeth as this horrendous level of overcrowding and service from Scotrail is nothing short of despicable.
It’s not going to be long before there is a death on one of these trains