The train now arriving... or is it?

Sir, – A week after a Japanese railway company apologised for a train being delayed by 25 seconds, it seems the 08.29 from Dundee to Edinburgh yesterday never even left Dundee.

I found that out when buying an advance ticket for the same train journey due to run tomorrow morning.

Having bought my advance ticket from Ladybank Station ticket office at 08.55, out of sheer curiosity I waited to see the train stop there, hopefully in the next two minutes as scheduled at 08.57. What a mistake.

I was still on the platform and growing ever more puzzled at 09.15, thinking the train must be unusually late, (even for Scot Rail). I noticed the overhead electronic board gave no details so I went back to the ticket office and asked the sole member of staff why I had not seen the 08.57 train draw into the station.

“Oh, they couldn’t get a driver for that one this morning,” the lady said almost nonchalantly.

As I am due to have an important meeting tomorrow, I asked if the 08.57 would run on time on that day.

The answer shocked me once more for it implied that no one seemed sure about the timing of any train travelling from Dundee to Edinburgh.

Choosing not to stop scheduled trains at stations like Kinghorn and Aberdour if they were running late is shocking enough but not running a scheduled train at all due to a driver shortage is unforgiveable. Archibald A Lawrie. Church Wynd, Kingskettle.