Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton Constituency has encouraged passengers to continue to claim for delays and cancellations as it is revealed that refunds given to rail passengers because of severe delays or cancellations have soared across the Scotland.

Passengers who have been delayed by 30 minutes or more can claim some or all of their fare back under ScotRail’s Delay Repay scheme.

Between April and December of last year, a total of 110,661 claims were made by passengers who were let down by ScotRail. Total claims under the scheme is up 52% compared to the previous year, despite figures for the final three months of the financial year still to be reported.

The news comes as it is revealed that just 56% of trains arrived on time at Dumbarton Central, 48% of trains arrived on time at Balloch and 42% of trains arrived on time at Helensburgh Central between 3 and 31 March.

Jackie said:

“These figures underline the chaos and misery faced by rail passengers across the country. Passengers travelling to and from Dumbarton, Helensburgh and Balloch have faced months of delays, cancellations, short formed and overcrowded trains.

“For months I have been told stories of people being late for college, university and work, and even missing hospital appointments because of the unreliable train service.

“It is time that the Transport Secretary finally listened to the public and stripped Abellio of the contract bringing our railway into public ownership.

“Passengers deserve better and our transport network should put people before profits.”