Rail upgrade is far from reality

Dear Editor

I am writing to express my anger at the upcoming changes to be implemented by Scotrail to its Dunblane-to-Edinburgh timetable.

During the last two years, travellers, residents and businesses have had to endure the disruption of regular line closures, replacement buses, limited rail services and major road closures due to engineering works.

We were promised this would be worth the inconvenience, as it would allow the delivery of a vastly improved rail service.

The truth, however, is that the new timetable shows this will be anything but the case.

My current commute (when it runs) lasts 52 minutes. The equivalent journey on the `improved’service will take one hour and seven minutes and involve changing trains at Stirling. Overall there will be fewer frequent direct services, longer journey times and fewer available departures for commuters, both in the morning and evening.

Only in the world of Scotrail, where daily cancellations, delays, reduced carriages and station skipping are the norm, could this be considered an upgrade.

I would strongly urge the company to revisit its planned changes and for once consider the plight of those of us who have no choice but to endure its substandard service.

Angry commuter By email