Hospitality trade begs for late trains soon

SCOTLAND’S beleaguered hospitality industry last night pleaded for a quick resolution to the rail disruption as it struggles to come back from the pandemic.

With rail services finishing earlier, trade at night-time venues such as pubs, clubs and restaurants will be hard hit.

Leon Thompson, chief executive of UK Hospitality Scotland, said: ‘This is devastating for the hospitality sector which is desperate to be welcoming back customers and guests. The earlier finish for trains is going to have a particularly damaging effect on the night-time economy in our cities because people will have to wind their evenings up sooner or may just choose not to travel into town or city centres.

‘We are now in a difficult situation that is compounding the problems that businesses are facing — debt from the pandemic and rising costs.

‘These cuts to train timetables are another massive barrier for businesses that really need to be able to trade as fully as they can.’