Craig Hoy MSP for South Scotland has met with Scotrail officials following mass cancellations and the announcement of a reduced timetable by the operator.
During the meeting, Craig made it clear to Scotrail that it is the residents of South Scotland and not the Government nor the train operator who are being most negatively affected by this ongoing disruption.
Craig met with Mark Ilderton, Scotrail’s Service Delivery Director, and other Scotrail officials to secure answers to questions from many constituents who are concerned about the recent service reductions.
Commenting after the meeting, Craig said: “It was helpful to meet with the Scotrail team to find out what is being done to mitigate disruption for passengers due to industrial issues. Drivers are not willing to work overtime, and due to the complexity of driver training, Scotrail users are paying the price.
“This industrial dispute is deeply concerning to rail passengers, and I would urge train drivers to return to normal working patterns while negotiations on pay and conditions continue. The SNP Scottish Government promised the public that nationalising the railways would lead to a network that is more efficient and works for everyone. This has clearly not happened.”
He added: “No one is currently feeling that Scotrail is performing better, as the current disruption is causing mayhem for those that rely on the railways. If Scotrail and the Scottish Government don’t sort this out, then the public will seriously question why the railways have been nationalised.”
An ongoing dispute between drivers and Scotrail over pay is causing disruption. A temporary timetable has been put in place, and Craig asked how long this would remain, although no definitive answer could be given.
Rail bosses did confirm that priority would be given to large events like the Scottish Open and the Fringe by the Sea and that any available drivers would be allocated to these events.
Mr Ilderton also assured Craig that the strictest driver training and safety procedures would continue to be followed, ensuring that customer safety is not compromised.
