New operator for Scotrail franchise
At the Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday (14 January), Dumfries and Galloway Councillors heard details concerning the new Scotrail franchise operator who will run train services in the region from 2015-2025.
Abellio Ltd will implement changes such as new smart ticketing products, Improved catering, including on-board catering on the Glasgow South Western line and rolling stock will be upgraded to provide wi-fi, power sockets, cycle storage. There will also be significant support for Community Rail Partnerships, with Abellio significantly enhancing the £500k support included within the Franchise by Transport Scotland.
However, it was agreed to highlight the following concerns about the franchise to Transport Scotland:
That there would be a reduction of direct services from Stranraer to Glasgow and that disabled people could be affected when having to change trains’ at Ayr.
The last train leaves Glasgow for Stranraer at 10:12pm, this is quite early
Additional weekday and weekend services from Dumfries to Carlisle will not come into being until 2017, despite current high demand.
Councillor Colin Smyth, Chairman of the Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee said
“Councillors were happy with increased services to and from Stranraer, but concerned at the removal of direct services to Glasgow and back and people will need to change at Ayr.
“The extra services on the Nith Valley line between Dumfries and Carlisle were also welcomed by councillors , but it is disappointing that most of the changes on this line won’t even take place until December 2017 and overall it looks as if very few improvements are being made in our region when compared to other areas.
“As a first step we will be writing to Transport Scotland to raise our concerns. We will also be contacting neighbouring councils in Ayrshire to ask whether they wish to make a joint approach to Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government to press the case for other improvements”.
“There is no doubt in my mind that a lack of investment in Dumfries and Galloway’s rail network has left the area with far from adequate rail services, which impacts tourism, and makes it more difficult for people commuting from Dumfries and Galloway to the Central Belt and the new franchise doesn’t improve matters”
General
•Inclusion of the Ayr-Stranraer and Kilmarnock-Dumfries lines within the “Scotland’s Great Scenic Railways” product;
•New smart ticketing products;
•Improved catering, including on-board catering on the Glasgow South Western line;
•Bike hire facilities at major stations, including Dumfries;
•Electrification of services in the Central Belt will enable refurbished class 156 DMUs to be redeployed to this area from 2017;
•Rolling stock will be upgraded to provide wi-fi, power sockets, cycle storage, etc;
•Significant support for Community Rail Partnerships, with Abellio significantly enhancing the £500k support included within the Franchise by Transport Scotland.
Stranraer-Ayr Line
•Two-hourly service to Kilmarnock;
•Loss of the current three direct services to / from Glasgow, retaining only late evening services at 21:04 (northwards) and 22:08 (southwards);
•Increased connectivity to Dumfries / Carlisle;
•These changes anticipated from December 2015.
Glasgow-Dumfries-Carlisle Line
•3 additional weekday services in both directions, 4 additional Saturday services;
•2 additional Sunday services in each direction with one morning service ;
•Reduced gaps between trains (longest now 2 hours, with average reduction > 30 minutes);
•1 additional Dumfries-Carlisle shuttle;
•These changes effective from December 2017.
