CRAIG Hoy, a Conservative MSP for South Scotland, has slammed Scotrail for cancelling all of its rail services from Dunbar to Edinburgh.
From Monday 23 May, the rail operator will introduce a temporary timetable leaving residents from Dunbar with no Scotrail services travelling to Edinburgh.
The new timetable will also reduce the number of services from Edinburgh to Dunbar down from 6 to 3.
Hoy has said there are significant concerns in the community about the timetable changes, which will leave Scotrail season ticket holders from Dunbar with no way of getting into work.
Scotrail was acquired by the Scottish Government last month.
In response to the service cuts, Hoy is looking to raise the issue in Parliament and has written to the Chief Executive of Scotrail and Scottish Transport Minister calling for clarity on the situation and a restoration of regular service from Dunbar.
6 Scotrail services are also being cut between North Berwick and Edinburgh.
Mr Hoy commented: “East Lothian’s rail services have already been decimated by Scotrail and the Scottish government.
“And now frequent rail travellers and season ticket holders have been left high-and-dry by this decision, and many are being forced to resort back to taking the car to get into work.
“The Scottish Government have committed themselves to achieving net-zero by 2045, but just 1 month into owning Scotrail we are already seeing indefinite service cuts with no indication of when trains will be restored.
“Rail users in Dunbar will have to pay up to £5.30 more for a return ticket with other providers and will not have the option of early morning travel into Edinburgh. And trains between North Berwick and Edinburgh will stop running after 8:30pm.
“This will cause untold misery to commuters who are only just getting back to work.
“And this is at a time where East Lothian is one of Scotland’s fastest growing areas and the demand for rail services is on the rise.
“I find this simply unacceptable, and I have raised concerns with Scotrail and the Transport Minister for the urgent restoration of regular services and the possibility of expanding Scotrail services in Dunbar.”
Scotrail have said that the temporary timetable changes are due to a significant number of drivers declining to make themselves available for overtime or rest day working following a ballot for industrial action over pay announced by union ASLEF.
They have said that they will update customers over the coming days.
