A seat in That’s a
SCOTRAIL CONTRACT CLAUSE REVEALS PLEDGE
Craig McDonald Rail passengers across Scotland have the right to a seat within 10 minutes of stepping on a train under the ScotRail contract.
A secret clause promises commuters should not be left standing.
Critics say ScotRail are continually in breach of the contract because of the clause.
Hundreds of passengers across the country are regularly forced to stand during their journeys.
But ScotRail say that as long as they show they have tried to move more rolling stock to the busiest trains, they are not in breach.
The clause on seating states: “The Franchisee shall, unless the Authority otherwise agrees, use all reasonable endeavours to provide passengers with a reasonable expectation of a seat within 10 minutes of boarding.”
The only service exempt from this is non-stop trains in either direction between Glasgow Central and Paisley Gilmour Street.
Beleaguered passengers said it is another example of users having to put up with a service desperately in need of improvement.
In a further blow for the troubled rail operators, we can also reveal performance figures for last week slumped to a new low for the year.
Thursday’s figure for services on time or less than five minutes late was just 74.2 per cent. If it falls to 84.3 per cent or below for three consecutive months – or for four out of 13 months – the Scottish Government can cancel the franchise between themselves, ScotRail and operators Abellio.
Office worker Marie McCormack, 52, of Garrowhill, Glasgow, said: “I sent an email to ScotRail to complain so we’ll see what comes of that.
“I travel Monday to Friday on the trains and they are routinely late. They are seldom on time.
“I travel from Garrowhill into Queen Street and it’s choc- a- bloc in the morning. Standing is commonplace.
“You get told there’s another train coming – but that can be late too.”
Her daughter Karen, 20, said: “I get the 8.18am into Queen Street for my course at Glasgow Caledonian University and it’s often standing room only. It’s just not a great way to start your day.”
Another commuter, Janet Wilson, of Falkirk, told us: “I use the trains Monday to Friday between Polmont and Edinburgh Park and it can be standing room only all the way.
“It ’ s of ten wel l in excess of 10 minutes. In the morning there are often not enough carriages, which means people are crammed into the train. In my opinion, it’s not safe.”
Rail user Peter Burns added: “I travel on the Glasgow Central to Neilston