‘CRUSHING BLOW’ FOR HOSPITALITY

Bosses warn ‘shocking’ rail cuts will harm recovery of fragile sector

AXING a third of train services in Scotland is a ‘crushing blow’ that will ‘cripple’ the fragile post-pandemic recovery of hospitality businesses, industry bosses have said.

The warnings come after customers were told more than 600 services would be cut by ScotRail from next week, including late-night trains across the country.

Nicola Sturgeon was yesterday urged to provide compensation for firms facing another ‘lost summer’.

Glasgow nightclub operator Donald MacLeod said that slashing rail services would ‘cripple’ the recovery of late-night venues, adding: ‘The frequency of the trains is one thing, but the times for the last services are shocking, particularly for the live music industry.

‘All music fans travel between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and gigs are already under pressure because of a no-show problem, caused by Covid, and now they cannot get home if they go to the show.’

He said train cancellations would also cause issues for the hiring of staff when the industry is already suffering from labour shortages.

Mr MacLeod added: ‘People do not want to take risks any more – they want continuity,

‘The whole travel network is failing’

they want something tangible, not continual disruption. Jobs and livelihoods at risk.

‘Hospitality was the first to close and last to open in the pandemic, particularly the nighttime economy, and we are seeing supply costs going through the roof, shortages of labour and now we have to deal with this.

‘The Scottish Government needs to get a grip and do something about it – the whole travel network is failing under their watch and they need to stand up and do something.’

The reduction in services comes just weeks after ScotRail was nationalised by the SNP. At First Minister’s Ques- tions yesterday, Scottish Conserv- ative leader Douglas Ross said: ‘These cuts are not just going to affect passengers, they are devastating for businesses as well.

‘Businesses in our city centres that are still reeling from the impact of the Covid pandemic are now facing another lost summer.

‘In so many places across Scotland, people are not going to be able to get a train after a night out.’

He also called for affected businesses to be given compensation.

Miss Sturgeon said: ‘I accept that these temporary cancellations, which are being made necessary by a pay dispute, are disruptive. They are disruptive to individuals and they are disruptive to businesses.

‘That’s why it is so important that I stress today, and that ScotRail works hard to ensure, that the temporary timetable is just that – that it is a temporary one – and that normal service is resumed as quickly as possible.’

ScotRail has blamed the cuts on a lack of staff to run services, amid an ongoing row with trade unions over pay.

Stephen Montgomery, spokesman for the Scottish Hospitality Group, said: ‘Obviously hospitality relies heavily on public transport, and we have already seen postlockdown a drastic drop in taxis.

‘Cities have already suffered from the back-to-work policy – and while we are trying to get people back to the city, we are met with a further blow from ScotRail.’

Leon Thompson, executive director of UK Hospitality Scotland said the decision was particularly ‘unhelpful’ at a time when businesses are still dealing with the ‘negative effects’ of working from home. He added: ‘The challenge we have now is that we have got a sector desperately trying to recover from closures and restricted openings.

‘Really what we need is people, customers, to travel around the country as easily as possible so they can visit hospitality businesses and enjoy what it has to