Scotrail cuts 100 services for training
● Rush to ready staff in time to run extra trains sparks cancellations
Scotrail has cancelled around 100 services over the past four days as it struggles to train staff in time to run extra trains next month.
Trains in and out of Edinburgh have been worst hit, with around 30 halted yesterday, 20 on Monday, around five on Sunday and more than 40 on Saturday.
Routes hit included those to North Berwick, the Borders, Dunblane, Fife and Aberdeen.
Scotrail blamed the late arrival of new trains for the rush to get drivers and conductors familiarised.
Brand new electric trains, which will take over full running of the main Edinburghglasgow line from 9 December, have been delivered late by Hitachi.
Refurbishment of 40-yearold inter-city diesel trains for
the Edinburgh-aberdeen line is also behind schedule.
Staff are having to be trained on stand-in electric trains, which will run between Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dun-
blane, replacing diesels.
Scotrail said the cancellations had been unavoidable.
A series of new services are also being introduced, including half-hourly trains between
Edinburgh and Glasgow via Falkirk Grahamston and Cumbernauld – effectively a fifth route between the cities.
Other changes are near-hourly services from Dundee-arbroath, Aberdeen-montrose and Inverness-elgin.
Scottish Conservatives transport spokesman Jamie Greene said: “Clearly, training staff to use the new trains is unavoidable and will cause some disruption.
“However, the fact there were over 100 cancellations seems to be excessive. As always, it’s the passengers who are impacted by these failures.”
Scottish Greens transport spokesman John Finnie MSP said: “This sounds like bad planning at the top.
“Scotland’s commuters are crying out for more reliable rail services and as we anticipate new vehicles, we should expect that roll-out to be as smooth as possible.”
Mike Rumbles, his Scottish Liberal Democrats counterpart, said: “Commuters are getting a rough ride from Scotrail. They are heartily sick of delays, cancellations and excuses.”
A Scotrail spokesperson said: “We’re sorry to our customers who have had their journey disrupted.
“We only cancel services where there is no other option and understand the impact this has on customers.”