A Lanarkshire MSP has slammed ScotRail's decision to cut 30 per cent of its rail services, saying it will be "hugely damaging" to residents in the area.
Graham Simpson has asked First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to confirm how long passengers can expect this disruption to go on for.
The Central Scotland MSP's call comes after the newly nationalised rail provider announced last week that 700 services - including many in Lanarkshire - will be slashed across Scotland amid a pay dispute with drivers.
At FMQs, Mr Simpson urged the First Minister to admit that the 130 shortfall in newly trained drivers and current delays in recruitment could leave local residents with a reduced service until 2024.
Across Lanarkshire, there will be a dramatic reduction in ScotRail services, with the number of trains running between Edinburgh and Glasgow, which stop at various stations in the region, falling from 45 a day to 30.
Motherwell’s service to Glasgow Central has also been cut, with the last train arriving back at 9.27pm as opposed to its previous 11.48pm.
Mr Simpson also expressed dismay with the Transport Minister, who has "chosen to walk away from union negotiations", after they were described by ASLEF as “the worst pay negotiations” in decades.
Mr Simpson told Lanarkshire Live : “The SNP took over the running of our rail service on April Fool’s Day - but Nat-Rail is no joke for Scotland’s passengers in Lanarkshire.
“Almost a third of services will be cut, leaving towns like Motherwell, Airdrie and East Kilbride with a significantly reduced service.
“I asked both the Transport Minister and Nicola Sturgeon to give a guarantee about when these cancellations will end but, unsurprisingly, neither could give me an answer.
“These cuts are devastating for thousands of local residents who rely on ScotRail’s trains to get to work, see family or attend personal appointments.
“Last month, the First Minister proclaimed that nationalising ScotRail was a ‘new beginning’ that would deliver ‘a railway for the nation’.
“But, after just seven weeks, nationalisation is already proving a disaster. As with the ferries, as soon as this government steps into sort things out, the problems get even worse.”
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