Shortage of staff blamed for chaos on trains
Stirling area rail passengers were among thousands across Scotland who faced disruption over Scotrail staff shortages.
Travellers heading between Stirling and Edinburgh and Glasgow faced lengthy delays and severely overcrowded services.
Some services operated with fewer carriages whilst others faced alterations and cancellations.
Disruption continued into Monday. Commuters were alerted to a number of cancellations of journeys to Edinburgh, including the 7.17am, 7.31am, 8.07am and 8.37am services.
Scotrail apologised for the disruptions and blamed staff training ahead of the implementation of the new December timetable for the chaos. A spokesperson said:“The majority of the impact is a result of our final push to deliver the December timetable improvements which will bring faster journeys, more seats, and more services for our customers.”
The new timetable will be introduced on Sunday and requires training for drivers and conductors, according to Scotrail.
In October, rail union RMT confirmed that an‘indefinite ban’on overtime and rest day working would come into force on Scotrail after members voted overwhelmingly for action in a dispute over equality and justice for all grades over rest day working payments.
Passengers hit out at the travel chaos with one, Sue McAllister, commenting: “I was on the 11.43am to Queen Street which was delayed because of overcrowding and staff shortages. It left Stirling around 12. When they say standing room only, it was so cramped that you couldn’t move your arms up to scratch your nose.”
Kirstie McMinn said:“The Edinburgh train at 12.07pm on Saturday only had two carriages. It was absolutely manic.”
Mandy McCallum added:“We had already got return train tickets to Glasgow Queen Street, two adults and two kids from Stirling. On returning to Glasgow Queen street around 6pm, trains were delayed and the train station was packed out with people having waited an hour and half. We walked to Buchanan Street bus station after advice from a policeman and got a bus to Stirling. Another £28.”
Andrea Strang said:“Staff shortages tells its own story. Must be as bad working for Scotrail as travelling on one of its trains.”
Lesley Arkison said:“We went to Edinburgh on Saturday from Stirling. The return train at 5.07pm was cancelled due to staff shortage so the 5.37pm was rammed full. Two trains worth of people crammed in to one train. We had to stand all the way home. Carriageway and door areas were dangerously cramped. Thankfully there was no emergency, but I shudder to think if there had been. I don’t travel by train often and Saturday reminds me why. I pity everyone who regularly has to use trains”
Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford has now written to the managing director of Scotrail asked the company to confirm how many cancellations there were and how such disruption was allowed to happen with no staffing cover, and what measures are being undertaken to ensure that this does not happen again.