MP ‘frustrated’ by lack of response from ScotRail

Concerns that too few trains are stopping in Mearns towns are being “disregarded” by rail bosses.

Tory MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Andrew Bowie said he has been “frustrated” by the lack of response from ScotRail to issues around services travelling via Stonehaven and Laurencekirk.

The creation of an interchange station at Montrose in December allowed more local services to operate at these stations, with daily services at Stonehaven increasing from 50 to 71.

It also resulted in daily services at Laurencekirk increasing from 24 to 40, but the new timetable has no trains to the Central Belt stopping at Laurencekirk.

Passengers in Stonehaven are expected to travel to Montrose and then change trains for Glasgow.

The MP asked ScotRail’s managing director Alex Hynes for an explanation, and in a follow-up letter says: “The lack of action on this, and the failure to even respond to my initial letters, smacks of a complete disregard for residents who live on the east coast main line in settlements between Aberdeen and Montrose.”

He added: “I have since attended a public meeting on this matter where, again, I requested a meeting to discuss further.

“During that public meeting, held in Laurencekirk, promises were made by ScotRail to the public, namely that ScotRail would report back to the community with an action plan for moving forward.

“To this date there has been no reporting back, nor to my knowledge has there been an action plan worked up.”

A ScotRail spokesperson said: “It’s important for us to continue to engage with stakeholders and local politicians, gaining valuable feedback from their constituents.

“The improvements made to our timetable last December were another milestone as we work to provide better services for Scotland’s railway.

“This was just the first phase of the work we are doing to deliver for our customers in the north-east.”