The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Scotland fans slam cuts to train services
Train travellers have blasted ScotRail’s “outrageous” new timetable amid fears cuts may harm the economy and leave football fans stranded.
The Scottish Governmentowned rail firm announced a stripped back timetable this week as tensions rose between rail chiefs and drivers union Aslef.
Commuters are angry at a “brutal” series of evening service cuts that will see the last train between many Scottish cities leave at around 8pm or earlier.
There is concern about the impact on the Tartan Army heading to the Scotland World Cup playoff semi-final against Ukraine on June 1.
The last trains of the day from Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen all leave Glasgow before the match even kicks off at 7.45pm.
Katrina Walker, 57, a member of the Tartan Army from Auchtermuchty in Fife, organises a supporters bus to Scotland games.
“The whole thing is just outrageous. Everybody’s talking about it,” she said, adding that she has been turning away fans trying to get a space on her fullybooked bus.
“A lot of fans from this part of the world will go to Perth and travel on the train from there to Glasgow. So there’s going to be a big effect there.”
ScotRail has said the new timetable is required due to drivers now refusing to work on their rest days but she called on the firm to stop blaming drivers for the row’s escalation.
“Pay them more or look again at their contracts. They need to sort it out,” she said.
Labour Fife MSP Alex Rowley said the cuts were an “unacceptable removal of services from the people of Fife”.
He said slashing services will have a widespread impact, adding: “That includes creating difficulty for workers commuting to and from the nation’s capital. Or something as simple as enjoying a night out.”
Mid Scotland Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: “These brutal cuts to rail services will have a massive impact on many of my constituents along with the night-time economy.
“I’ve already been contacted by irate constituents. That includes one who had enjoyed visiting friends in the capital and going to the theatre or having a meal at a restaurant.”
A ScotRail spokesman said the company would issue travel advice for the upcoming Scotland internationals in the leadup to the games.
David Simpson, the service delivery director at the company, apologised again to customers and said he “shares” their frustration.
“In order to provide a robust timetable with the limited number of available train drivers, we’ve had to make some very difficult decisions.
“This has meant we’ve been unable to provide a full day’s service across every route,” he said.
“We will review the service levels and make any improvements we can as quickly as possible.”