Rail links between two Lanarkshire areas could be improved after a plea from local politicians to the government's transport minister.
Jenny Gilruth has asked Transport Scotland to raise an ongoing local rail issue with Scotrail and SPT regarding a direct train service from Newton to Uddingston.
There are currently no direct services between the two stations, despite a rail line running by both stations.
Many children living in the Newton area currently attend Uddingston Grammar when they go to secondary school, but the current train routes mean pupils have to switch trains at Cambuslang station to make the journey.
During the summer the Labour list MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy and Cambuslang East councillor Walter Brogan wrote to the Transport Minister, after recent refurbishment works on the train line meant there were temporary direct services introduced between the stations.
They are now arguing that revising the current route is possible and would help locals.
Ms Duncan-Glancy told Lanarkshire Live : "The wider Cambuslang area has undergone significant expansion in recent years, but local service provision has not kept up.
"Nearly 10 years since development started people are still waiting for amenities, facilities and transport links that they need.
"The lack of nursery and school provision has meant a complete overhaul of local schooling arrangements, which in turn has created real issues for school transport.
"Now that it has ownership of our national rail company the Scottish Government should be doing all it can to make sure rail services are meeting the needs of those that need to use them."
Councillor Brogan added: "I know how important this issue is to residents living across Newton and Westburn. The previous South Lanarkshire Council administration implemented half-hearted, stop gap solutions which have now left families facing real difficulty.
"The community does not have access to a high school in its own area, and not only are they having to now send their children to Uddingston, but there is also no feasible public transport route to get them there either.
"Pupils are being denied opportunities to engage in extracurricular activities because they are unable to get to school or travel home without the use of a car.
"It’s important the government do all they can to engage with ScotRail and the local authority to find a long-term solution to this ongoing schooling saga - my constituents deserve much better."
South Lanarkshire Council are set to rule on whether to approve rezoning the Newton area, which would see some of the area that currently allocates pupils to Uddingston instead send them to Cathkin High.
Ms Gilruth responded to both Ms Duncan-Glancy and Councillor Brogan with a letter, saying: "In relation to the matter of pupils traveling to school by public transport, my officials have asked ScotRail to raise this matter directly with SPT to ensure they are doing what they can.
"I have asked my officials to write directly to you as soon as they have received a substantive update on this work. I know that ScotRail intends to consult later this year on new timetables for the Strathclyde area.
"This should provide an opportunity for stakeholders to demonstrate and to highlight the potential demand for any trains stopping at Uddingston from Newton, however if these calls are agreed then it’s likely a reduction of other station calls would be required in order to make such calls fit into the timetable."
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