Train passengers are facing weeks of “chaos” after the number of services between Dumfries and Glasgow was slashed.
ScotRail, which was brought under Scottish Government control last month, has announced a reduced, temporary timetable after an ongoing pay dispute led to a shortage of drivers.
From Monday, weekdays will see just five services between Glasgow and Dumfries and four in the opposite direction – half the current number,
South Scotland Labour MSP, Colin Smyth, said: “Just weeks after the Scottish Government took over ScotRail it has already joined the long list of services bungled by the SNP Government.
“Services in our area are being plunged into chaos, workers are being treated with contempt, and passengers are being left in the lurch – but SNP ministers are nowhere to be seen.
“It is utterly shameless for ScotRail to try and pin the blame for their own failures on dedicated frontline workers, who have gone above and beyond to paper over the cracks created by years of failed leadership.
“The SNP must take responsibility for fixing this mess – they have already cut services and failed to employ enough staff. It’s time for them to reverse their ScotRail cuts.”
Earlier this month, members of train drivers union ASLEF decided they would no longer work overtime or on rest days – something ScotRail had relied on while training new drivers. And they have rejected a 2.2 per cent pay rise, with members now being balloted on potential strike action.
To cope with the driver shortage, ScotRail has announced a reduced timetable for weekdays, which has cut services across Scotland by nearly a third. A reduced timetable for Saturdays is yet to be announced. Currently, the final service of the day from Glasgow to Dumfries leaves the central belt at 10.13pm. From Monday, that will change to 7.13pm.
Similarly, the last Dumfries to Glasgow service will leave at 6.37pm, compared to the current final journey departing at 8.49pm.
Apologising for the inconvenience, ScotRail service director, David Simpson, said: “We know what customers want more than anything is certainty and reliability, which is why we are introducing a temporary timetable.
“We want to resolve this dispute with the trade unions and move forward together to provide the safest, greenest, and most reliable railway we can for Scotland. We remain open to further talks with the trade unions.”
However, ASLEF Scotland organiser, Kevin Lindsay, said: “It’s time the Scottish Government allowed ScotRail and ASLEF to negotiate in a fair and open manner.
“These cuts will have a devastating effect on passengers and their confidence in our railway.”
Scotland’s Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth, was challenged about the “calamitous chapter” for rail in Scotland at Holyrood on Wednesday, although she did not agree with the characterisation of the Scottish Government’s handling of public ownership of ScotRail. She said: “Due to some drivers not taking up the option of overtime Sunday and rest day working, ScotRail has today announced plans to run a temporary reduced timetable to give passengers a more stable and reliable service.
“Again, I would appeal to trade unions, which of course campaigned so strongly for public ownership, to come back to the table and negotiate an agreement.”
