Scotrail urged to stay on track with Broughty Ferry services pledge

Delay: Residents concerned with time being taking for roll-out to happen

A councillor has urged Scotrail to stick to its promise to deliver additional Broughty Ferry train services.

Craig Duncan, a Liberal Democrat councillor for the area, made the call following residents’ concerns about how long the roll-out is taking.

The delay is said to be caused by the failure of Hitachi to deliver on time the new Class 385 electric trains to Scotrail for use in the Central Belt, allowing for the release of rolling stock to provide extra services for Broughty Ferry.

Mr Duncan said: “I appreciate the failure of prompt delivery of new rolling stock that allows for better Broughty Ferry rail services rests with the contractor and not Scotrail itself.

“However, I have told Scotrail’s operations director that the company should be doing all it can to ensure the improved services are delivered as soon as possible and certainly before December.

“Once Hitachi delivers enough of the

“Customers will benefit from these advances in December

Class 385 trains, Scotrail must start to deliver on the improvements that will transform the rail service locally, including an hourly service between Dundee and Arbroath, calling at Broughty Ferry.

“It is really important that Scotrail delivers on the promises it has made to the people of Broughty Ferry and other east coast communities.”

Perry Ramsey, operations director of Scotrail Alliance, said he “understood the frustration” and that the company was “working flat out” to deliver the improvements.

He added: “The opening of the V&A later this year has the potential to transform Dundee and the surrounding area.

“We are determined to play our part in that transformation, which is why we had identified an opportunity to bring forward the service improvements from December 2018 to May 2018.

“This, however, has not been possible. The improvements are dependent on a complex series of projects all delivering exactly on time.

“Unfortunately, Hitachi has failed to deliver the brand new Class 385 electric trains for use in the Central Belt. This has had a knock-on impact across our entire network.

“Please be assured we are doing everythingwecantoensureourcustomers in Broughty Ferry will now benefit from these advances in December.”

nvidinova@thecourier.co.uk

Picture: Steve Macdougal. Passengers disembarking and boarding a train at Broughty Ferry Station.