SAVE OUR STATIONS

For Immediate Release: Friday 28 January 2022

ATTN:       Newsdesks

                  Picture desks

                  Transport Correspondents

                  Political Editors and Correspondents

“SAVE OUR STATIONS FROM SCOTRAIL CUTS” SAYS MACASKILL

ALBA Depute Leader Kenny MacAskill MP and Cllr Michelle Ferns, ALBA Party councillor for Shettleston have today (Friday) issued an S.O.S. to Scotrail and launched a petition to “Save Our Stations from Scotrail Cuts” at Dalmarnock Railway Station.

Scotrail have issued a public consultation which proposes to reduce the office hours of 117 of its 143 managed stations including the complete closure of three tickets offices at Cartsdyke, Clydebank and Woodhall.

These proposed changes would result in a reduction in services and assistance to the travelling public and would pose a threat to public safety and have rightly been condemned by the RMT trade union.

At Dalmarnock station it is proposed that the ticket office hours be reduced on weekdays with a later opening time of 07:15 hrs (compared with 06:37 hrs) and an earlier closing time of 09:30 hrs (compared with 23:15 hrs).  This would see a drastic week day reduction in the ticket opening hours of over 13 hours per day and over 92 hours over the week.

As part of these changes it is proposed to close the ticket office on Saturday (currently 06:37 hrs to 23:15 hrs) and on Sunday (currently 09:55 hrs to 18:11hrs).

Speaking at the launch today (Friday) ALBA Party Depute Leader Kenny MacAskill MP said:

“Scotrail are simply failing to meet their responsibilities to the travelling public by proposing cuts to ticket office opening hours at stations like Dalmarnock.  It is madness that Scotrail are proposing to close ticket offices at weekends when the highest footfall is often on match days with fans using the service to travel to Parkhead. These cuts will lead to a reduction in a service the public are entitled to receive.

“There are a range of services provided by staff working in ticket offices and at stations which a ticket vending simply cannot provide. A ticket vending machine will not automatically provide the cheapest fare for passengers and the lack of staff to provide assistance to disabled, older and vulnerable passengers with sight and mobility issues is unacceptable.

“As of 1 April 2022, Abellio will no longer be operating the ScotRail franchise, which will be publicly run. The RMT trade union, with whom I met recently has questioned why the outgoing operator is consulting over significant changes to a rail franchise it will no longer be responsible for in just a matter of weeks. They are right to do so and that is why I am calling on the Scottish Government to use its ongoing Emergency Measures Agreement, to intervene and withdraw these proposals now.”

Also speaking at the launch of the “Save Our Stations” petition ALBA Councillor for Shettleston Michelle Ferns said:

“ALBA is fighting back on behalf of our communities in opposing these proposed cuts to vital services. 

“Reducing the opening hours of Scotrail ticket offices is not only short sighted it is a false economy.  But more than that it poses a direct threat to public safety, particularly for women travelling home at night, and could cause potential harm by leaving ticket offices and stations unstaffed during the day, in evenings and at weekends. 

“The proposed reductions in service will also affect the ability of disabled passengers and older commuters  to access services.

That is unacceptable and Scotrail must be forced to think again.”

ENDS 

NOTES TO EDITORS: 

1). COPY OF ALBA PETITION – SOS- Save Our Stations

The  text of the petition reads:

The Alba Party oppose Scotrail’s proposal of the reduction of services at ticket stations across Scotland.

ScotRail are proposing to cut services at ticket offices across Scotland. 117 stations across the country will be affected including Dalmarnock Station. The proposal would see a significant reduction of services in Dalmarnock, amounting to 13 hours per day and 92 hours over a week.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) have expressed serious concerns that this will see an increase in anti-social behaviour and low-level crime.

The concern reflects a growing number of violent assaults and vandalism across the network, a concern that was echoed in November by Chief Superintendent Gill Murray of British Transport Police (BTP), when she referred to crimes across the network being elevated since the start of the pandemic.

Please sign below to show support in opposing these cuts and protecting services.

You can also have your say by responding to the consultation by watchdog Transport Focus either by writing to Transport Focus Freepost (RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ), PO Box 5594, Southend on Sea, SS1 9PZ or by email to schedule17.sr@transporttfocus.org.uk

BEAT THE CENSORS

Sadly some sites had given up on being pro Indy sites and have decided to become merely pro SNP sites where any criticism of the Party Leader or opposition to the latest policy extremes, results in censorship being applied. This, in the rather over optimistic belief that this will suppress public discussion on such topics. My regular readers have expertly worked out that by regularly sharing articles on this site defeats that censorship and makes it all rather pointless. I really do appreciate such support and free speech in Scotland is remaining unaffected by their juvenile censorship. Indeed it is has become a symptom of weakness and guilt. Quite encouraging really.

FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS

Are available on the home and blog pages of this website. A subscription ensures you will be notified of all future articles and you will be joining thousands who have already done so. You will be very welcome.