Delay fears for new services

Train drivers have voiced “serious concerns” over Scotrail being able to introduce promised extra services from 9 December because of a claimed training backlog.

The drivers’ union Aslef said “nobody has any faith” because two fleets of new trains are being delivered late.

A new half-hourly service is due to start between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Cumbernauld. Extra trains are also scheduled between Dundee and Arbroath, Aberdeen and Montrose and Inverness and Elgin.

Aslef Scotland secretary Kevin Lindsay said: “As a union that cares about Scotland’s railway and listening to Scotrail’s train drivers, we have serious concerns about Abellio’s ability to deliver the December timetable change.”

However, a Scotrail spokesperson said: “The new timetable will be delivered on 9 December.”