Constituency MSP, Jackie Baillie, has called on Michael Mathieson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, to address the capacity issues on ScotRail services from Dumbarton, Balloch and Helensburgh.

Passengers in this area have suffered consistent problems with train services including regular cancellations, delays and short-formed services. ScotRail had promised the MSP that as part of the timetable changes, services from these stations would have six carriages instead of three, particularly for peak time travel. Despite this passengers have continued to be crammed onto 3 carriage trains with many services already full by the time they get to Dumbarton Central.

The Transport Minister told the MSP that delays in the delivery of additional rolling stock are to blame for the continuously crammed services and that the issue was addressed in the franchise. However, the MSP has discovered that capacity issues are addressed in the ‘Train Plan’ as a target for Abellio ScotRail. It is therefore disappointing that the Transport Minister agreed not to take any enforcement action on the company for missing targets, so that they are being let off the hook for failing passengers.

Jackie said:

“Abellio ScotRail have missed their targets consistently for months and instead of being on the side of commuters, the Transport Secretary has simply let them off the hook.

“Train services are dangerously overcrowded with ScotRail only providing 3 carriages for peak time services on the busiest routes, at the same time as passengers are being asked to pay more for the pleasure of being crammed in like sardines.

“The level of unreliability on train routes is simply unacceptable. It is time that the Transport Secretary stopped turning a blind eye and ensured that ScotRail is held responsible for the poor service.”