Rail strife sparks fears of car chaos during the Open

ScotRail’s new timetable could leave St Andrews clogged with cars during the Open, it has been claimed.

The rail operator has slashed services amid a union dispute, with evening and late trains bearing the brunt of the cuts.

Train timetablers have cut services between Dundee and Leuchars — the stop off point for St Andrews.

The 150th Open is set to take place at the Home of Golf in July. It is expected to be one of the biggest sporting events of the summer.

Local Lib Dem councillor and rail campaigner Jane Ann Liston has highlighted issues which may crop up if the union dispute drags on for months.

She said: “It will certainly discourage visiting spectators from deciding to eat in the town after the golf because they won’t have time before the last train from Leuchars.

“I fear it will also undermine the organisers’ stated aim to discourage people from driving to and from St Andrews.”

Ms Liston is also worried there will not be enough buses to meet the rise in demand, leading many to drive to St Andrews despite plans for heavy restrictions on parking in the town.

“The last thing St Andrews needs is to be overrun with even more cars than usual,” she added.

If the emergency timetable is still in place, Open fans will have to make it to Leuchars for 9.16pm if going to Dundee.

Previously, services ran up until midnight.

ScotRail bosses are cutting the number of evening services to Dundee from 12 to seven, so the trains that are running are likely to be significantly busier.

However, getting beyond Dundee by rail in the evening will be increasingly difficult the later it gets. Very few services depart from the city after 7pm.

If heading south from Leuchars, the last train will depart at 7pm. This will make staying elsewhere in Fife or Edinburgh difficult without private transport.

Morning options are largely unaffected.

Travelling by train is the first suggestion listed on the historic event’s ‘Getting There’ webpage. It promises an “enhanced service” during the Open, which is unlikely if the emergency timetable is still in place.

Temporary traffic regulations and parking restrictions will be introduced in St Andrews during the event, according to the Open website.

It states: “These will be enforced... to minimise disruption to local residents and businesses, assist traffic flow and increase safety and security for all road users.”

Drivers will be diverted to temporary park and ride locations, with no parking allowed at St Andrews Links or “in the immediate area”.

There will be some bus options.

A ScotRail spokesman said it would be “wrong to assume” the temporary timetable would be the same by the summer.

“It’s too early to comment on events this summer,” he said.

OVERRUN: Jane Ann Liston worries fewer trains will see more cars than usual in St Andrews during the Open.