A reduced timetable for East Renfrewshire train routes is set to remain in place for an extended period with no clarity on when the previous service provision will return.
Eastwood MSP Jackson Carlaw contacted both the Managing Director of ScotRail, Joanne Maguire and the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop MSP to call for the restoration of a full timetable on the East Kilbride and Neilston lines to be treated as a priority issue.
The reply from ScotRail confirms that services on the East Kilbride line with stops at Thornliebank, Giffnock, Clarkston and Busby have been reduced by 40 percent.
Trains on the Glasgow South Electric routes including the Neilston line where trains pass Williamwood, Whitecraigs and Patterton stations have been cut by 25 percent.
Mr Carlaw specifically asked for ScotRail to set out how long the reduced service provision would be in place for both East Kilbride and Neilston but it has now been confirmed that there is currently no timescale for reinstating the more expansive timetable.
In his letter to Ms Hyslop, Mr Carlaw asked for clarity on what actions the Transport Secretary had pursued to assist in resolving the dispute with the rail trade unions when considering ScotRail is now in public ownership after it was nationalised in April 2022.
In response, Ms Hyslop said it is ScotRail’s responsibility to negotiate a settlement but within the confines of public sector pay metrics and the Scottish Government encouraged the unions to engage meaningfully with the rail operator.
In another development, the ticket machine on platform 1 at Giffnock station is back in operation after it was out of service for a period in July.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw said:
“It is hugely frustrating that the damaging reduction in local train services appears likely to continue for an extended period and with ScotRail unable to offer any clarify on how long it will take to restore the standard timetable for the East Kilbride and Neilston lines.
“The SNP Government’s passive approach to this issue is not fooling anyone and Ministers must accept their share of the blame for the significant train cuts introduced by nationalised ScotRail.
“ScotRail is owned by the Scottish Government and the SNP’s lacklustre response is nowhere near good enough.
“In more positive news, I am pleased that the ticket machine at Giffnock station is back in use.
“As soon as I became aware that it had broken-down, I highlighted to ScotRail the importance of repairs and it is welcome that the machine can again be used for the purchase of train tickets.”
Notes:
The replies from the Transport Secretary and ScotRail can be viewed by clicking on the below attachments.
