An MSP reckons train passengers in South Ayrshire have been handed a raw deal in the wake of the introduction this week of a temporary timetable.
South Scotland Conservative List MSP, Sharon Dowey, has expressed major concerns that services in South Ayrshire have been slashed by 28 per cent since Monday.
The scaling back of services follows a wage dispute between ScotRail and the ASLEF union, which has refused to work overtime to keep the regular schedule running.
As a result, ScotRail put in place a temporary schedule on Monday, which eliminated almost a third of rail services across Scotland.
The last train from Ayr to Glasgow now departs at 21:45 instead of 23:00, while the last train from Glasgow to Ayr now departs at 22:00 instead of 00:15.
The initial May 2022 timetable had around 2,150 weekday services, but these have been reduced by a third since Monday, May 23.
Ms Dowey said: “On April Fools’ Day, the Scottish Government hailed ScotRail’s nationalisation as a historic decision.
“Nearly eight weeks later, rail services in Scotland and South Ayrshire have been drastically reduced.
“I assume this was supposed to be a fresh start, but all South Ayrshire passengers have so far gotten is more cancellations, increased fare prices, and a massive inconvenience. I don’t think this was part of the Scottish Government’s plan.”
She added: “One of the Scottish Government’s goals was to boost the use of public rail services across the country, but I don’t believe that will be achievable if these services are slashed by a third just two months after ScotRail was nationalised.”
Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth, said: “ScotRail has put in place a temporary timetable as a result of drivers refusing to work on their rest days. I am absolutely committed to working with ScotRail and ASLEF to get a resolution and for the thousands of other passengers who have been inconvenienced by the dispute. We absolutely do not want the current scenario to go on for any longer than it has already gone on for.”
A ScotRail spokesperson said: “We’re aware how much recent disruption has been affecting our customers and believe introducing a temporary timetable will provide greater certainty and reliability for those travelling.
“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.”
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