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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Kathleen Speirs

ScotRail chaos in Glasgow forces student to travel 140 miles by taxi

A student was forced to travel almost 140 miles by taxi as ScotRail's cancellations in Glasgow continue to cause chaos.

We told how a wave of train services have been scrapped this week.

Jack Boag's journey from Dalmuir, West Dunbartonshire to his home in Mallaig, Highlands was scrapped with 'no prior warning' on Tuesday.

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The 21-year-old had to take a four-and-a-half-hour taxi from Dalmuir to Fort William and a second taxi onto Mallaig that took an hour and a half.

The Masters student slammed ScotRail for 'not taking enough action' as passengers are 'left stranded' up and down stations on the West Highland line over the holiday weekend.

Jack Boag travelled almost 140 miles by taxi after his ScotRail service was scrapped (HANDOUT)

He told Glasgow Live: "I sympathise with staff who are striking over pay but ScotRail could be doing more here.

"ScotRail paid for my two taxis which was great, but dealing with me, just one person, is easy.

"What about whole groups of passengers who they can't just stick in a taxi?

"At Fort William I met a group of tourists stranded because only one service was running to Glasgow Queen Street that day, at 11.30am, and they missed it.

"This is a holiday weekend, running so few services is unacceptable."

Jack Boag got home to Mallaig in Lochaber, Highlands on Tuesday evening after his train was cancelled (HANDOUT)

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Jack, who hails from Glasgow's Partick but lives in Mallaig with this mum during the summer, spent the weekend in the Netherlands to judge a debating competition.

He travelled from Utrecht to Edinburgh then on to Glasgow to stay with a friends on Monday.

On Tuesday he headed to Dalmuir train station to hop on the 12.20pm service for Mallaig that left from Glasgow Queen Street.

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Jack only found out the service was cancelled upon his arrival at Dalmuir where staff arranged for a local taxi to give him a lift to Fort William - lasting four and a half hours.

"The cancelled service was only running from Crianlarich, Perthshire," Jack added.

"I was put in a taxi to Fort William and hopped on the train when it stopped there.

"I missed the train, so a second taxi was arranged to take me from there on to Mallaig."

He added: "My journey was delayed by over half an hour so I'm entitled to compensation which only works out to around £15 but it's the principle.

"ScotRail need to put on more services."

ScotRail chiefs apologised for the disruption.

David Simpson, the firm's service delivery director, said: “We’re sorry to our customers for the disruption they are facing as a result of the reduction in services, and we share their frustration.

“We’re keen to resolve the dispute as soon as possible and the timetable will operate for as long as it needs to in order to provide a more dependable service.

“The timetable is being regularly reviewed and we were able to add some additional late-night services last weekend, that will help to keep customers moving.

"We advise customers to check their journey before they travel."

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