The Stonehaven tragedy was a shocking indictment of the state of our railway network.
Three people lost their lives in an accident that could have been avoided if better infrastructure had been in place.
Now the Record has revealed concerns about the safety of the rolling stock were raised by unions as far back as 2018.
Drivers’ union ASLEF repeatedly warned rail safety chiefs that greater checks should have been made on the ageing High Speed Train (HST) fleet.
Three times they called for a report to be commissioned on these outdated trains but on each occasion they were rebuffed by rail safety watchdogs.
When warnings are issued by the people driving the trains, industry bosses should sit up and take notice.
Staff on the frontline should have their concerns taken seriously – not brushed aside.
Another badge of shame is the shocking lack of investment that has dogged an industry that has never recovered from Tory privatisation.
Railways need resources or passengers face ever rising costs for a substandard service.
Our commitment to climate change targets should also ensure rail receives a better deal than it used to.
With Scotland’s railway service soon to be brought into public ownership, we need to see a vast improvement.
Our trains need to be more affordable to encourage people out of their cars.
More importantly, our railway network needs to be safe.
And that means investment in rolling stock and track that is modern, well-maintained and able to withstand the Scottish climate.
None of this will come cheap. But a rail service Scotland can be proud should be one of our top priorities.
Ross is risible
It LOOKS like Douglas Ross’s red card decision against Boris Johnson has been overturned by VAR.
The assistant ref turned Tory politician had called for Boris to go – but in a last-gasp U-turn he’s changed his mind.
Ross demanded that the PM resign after he admitted attending “gatherings” in Downing Street during lockdown.
He saw it as a privileged elite on the lash with suitcases of booze while the rest of us obeyed the rules.
But now Ross thinks Boris is fine – and to show that they’re all good pals the PM is even coming to the Scottish Tory conference in Aberdeen next week.
It looks like Ross has been dazzled by Johnson’s performance as a pound shop Churchill during the Ukraine war.
But he has done nothing to transform into a competent leader, in fact his refusal to immediately allow those fleeing the war to seek shelter here has left a stain on the UK’s reputation.
As for Ross, his new faith in Johnson will make voters think he is weak and lacking in judgment.
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