A local MSP has voiced very serious concerns about the impact of reduced timetables introduced by ScotRail on the availability of train services for his constituents.
Jackson Carlaw who represents Eastwood has highlighted that a total of 28 and 12 services respectively for the Glasgow to East Kilbride and Glasgow to Neilston train lines on a daily basis from Monday to Friday are no longer part of the train timetables operated by ScotRail.
On the East Kilbride line, there has been a reduction in train service provision between the hours of 9am and 5pm from two per hour to just the one.
For the Neilston line, key services have been cancelled including the 07.41 and 08.07 morning trains to Glasgow.
The 21.36 and 22.35 evening trains from Glasgow to Neilston are excluded from the new timetable.
The reduced East Kilbride timetable for weekends is similar to the midweek changes.
There is a more limited impact on Saturday trains for Neilston as only a small number are missing from the scheduled services but with a much greater impact on Sundays.
Trains on the East Kilbride line stop at the Eastwood stations of Thornliebank, Giffnock, Clarkston and Busby.
The Neilston line operates train services to Williamwood, Whitecraigs and Patterton stations.
ScotRail have introduced the temporary timetables in response to a pay dispute with the rail trade unions.
It was announced on Tuesday 9th July that the reduced train service offering would take effect the very next day.
Mr Carlaw has written to the Managing Director of ScotRail stressing the importance of urgently restoring the usual train timetables for the East Kilbride and Neilston lines.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw said:
“I am utterly dismayed by the sheer scale of the cuts to train services for Eastwood.
“Local people who travel on services to and from Thornliebank, Giffnock, Clarkston and Busby stations will be rightly furious at the major reduction in the availability of trains.
“Key services have also been removed from the Neilston line and this is a major point of concern.
“The decision to put in place the reduced train service offering was only announced on the day before the cuts were due to be implemented and this provided passengers with very little notice about the changes.
“I have strongly expressed my frustration with the cuts to ScotRail and restoring Eastwood’s train services should be treated as a matter of critical importance.”
Notes:
Jackson Carlaw's letter to ScotRail's Managing Director can be accessed by clicking on the below attachment.