New train timetables marred by disruption

Havoc for commuters amid staff shortages and signalling issues

Cancellations and delays caused havoc for rail commuters on the first working day of new train timetables.

Staff shortages, signalling problems, a landslip and ongoing industrial action were among the issues affecting the network yesterday morning.

Industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) insisted the problems were “unrelated” and the “vast majority of services are running as planned”.

The rail authorities reported no timetable-related delays throughout the day.

A new railway station opened in Scotland as major changes to rail timetables come into force.

The first train called at Robroyston station at 08:37, en route to Edinburgh Waverley from Glasgow Queen Street.

The new station, in the north-east of Glasgow, will offer local residents access to the railway network for the first time since 1956.

ScotRail promises 10,000 extra seats every day under the new timetable.

Changes come with promises of shorter journey times, more frequent trains and new routes.

The promised improvements include up to three trains an hour between Inverurie, Dyce and Aberdeen, plus more direct journeys across Aberdeenshire between Inverurie, Stonehaven and Montrose.

The route between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Falkirk High will have eight carriages for every peak service. There are extra carriages for popular morning services on the Borders Railway, between Tweedbank and South Gyle.

It comes after ScotRail was issued with a series of improvement notices, following complaints about overcrowding and cancellations.

When a new timetable was introduced last December, Nicola Sturgeon criticised the rail firm for “unacceptable” cancellations and delays.

In England yesterday, those travelling with Transpennine Express (TPE) – which operates across the north of England and into Scotland – appeared to suffer the worst disruption with 47% of the firm’s services either cancelled or at least half an hour late by 9am.

Affected routes included those linking Manchester Airport with Edinburgh and Newcastle, and trains from Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough.

TPE said this was due to a shortage of crew and train faults.

Due to strike action by the RMT union, travellers on the SWR network have been warned of fewer trains, earlier finishes and replacement buses.

A landslip between Epsom in Surrey and Motspur Park in south-west London made disruption even worse as all lines between the two stations were blocked.

Passengers on Great Western Railway suffered cancellations and delays between Reading and London Paddington due to a fault with the signalling system at Maidenhead.

RDG director of nations and regions Robert Nisbet said: “There are a number of unrelated incidents affecting a small proportion of journeys, and the train operators involved are working with Network Rail to minimise disruption.

“While the vast majority of services are running as planned, we are keeping people moving and we are sorry for the inconvenience caused.”

“The train operators involved are working with Network Rail to minimise disruption. ROBERT NISBET, RAIL DELIVERY GROUP

Picture: Getty. A new railway station has opened in Scotland as major changes come into force.