Labour blasts SNP over trains ‘mess’

INFORMATION on overcrowding on Scotland’s busiest train services should be made public without delay, Labour have said.

The Scottish Government last week announced specialised counting equipment will be installed on ScotRail trains.

The operator discloses to the Scottish Government how crowded its Glasgow to Edinburgh service has been every four weeks.

Under the terms of the Abellio contract, the group also has to audit passenger numbers on every rail service twice a year.

But Labour said the Scottish Government should compel ScotRail to make this information public.

Scottish Labour transport spokesman Neil Bibby said: “What an absolute mess. The SNP claimed this was a world-leading deal for Scottish passengers – but it’s not even the best in the UK with passengers kept in the dark about overcrowded services.

“Scottish passengers are filling the coffers of the Dutch government to the tune of £1 million a month with this deal and the SNP can’t even tell us if the trains are overcrowded.”

During a heated exchange at First Minister’s Questions last week, in which Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale raised overcrowding and delayed trains, Nicola Sturgeon said she was “absolutely committed” to fixing the problems on Scotland’s railways.