Dumbarton MSP blasts 'appalling' train timetable cuts

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Rail services for travellers in Dumbarton, the Vale and Helensburgh have been slashed in a move described “appalling” due to a driver dispute.

Scotrail has revealed a new temporary timetable due to a high number of disrupted services in recent weeks after drivers refused requests by the newly-nationalised company to work overtime shifts.

Almost a third of services across the country have been axed, with a new temporary timetable introduced yesterday.Under the changes, the last service from Glasgow Queen Street to Balloch on weekdays will now leave at 8.13pm, whilethe final train from Edinburgh to Helensburgh – calling at Dumbarton – will leave the capital at 9.40pm.Previously the last train from Glasgow to Balloch left Queen Street at 11.37pm, while services from Edinburgh to Helensburgh ran until 10.23pm.Morning services have also been cut, with the first train from Balloch to Glasgow leaving at 6.08am, and no services leaving afterwards until 7.38am – leaving workers who have an 8am start time in limbo.Services from Helensburgh to Edinburgh will remain half-hourly, starting at 5.54am and running until 8.02pm.

Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said cancellations began affecting residents last week, with a number of services cancelled.One woman reported being crammed into a carriage on the 7.55am service from Helensburgh Central to Glasgow Queen Street on Friday morning as the two subsequent trains were cancelled.The Labour MSP said: “This is absolutely appalling that, just weeks into public ownership of Scotrail, the timetable has been cut back so much that travelling by train is no longer an option for them.“As services are being plunged into chaos and workers treated with contempt, the SNP are nowhere to be seen.“It is