Councillor in call for improvements to far north train service
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A CAITHNESS councillor has voiced concern about train services in the far north and is calling on the Scottish Government and ScotRail to take notice of the plight of local passengers.
Councillor Raymond Bremner was speaking after ScotRail boasted a 19-month high for trains running on time in the country as a whole, saying customers were reaping the rewards of investment in infrastructure and £475 million on new and upgraded trains.
"You would think that we are living in a different world here in Caithness," said Councillor Bremner, who represents Wick and East Caithness on Highland Council.
In a bid to press home his concerns about the problems facing local train users, the councillor met with ScotRail’s fleet manager for the north, Derek Glasgow, on board the 8.02am service from Wick to Inverness earlier this month.
"We have train cancellations, no catering facilities and frequent issues with carriage heating that mean freezing cold journeys at an already cold time of the year," Councillor Bremner said.
"I’m really struggling to understand what amount of the £475 million investment has been invested in the north line other than essential maintenance."
Saying that he had to laugh at ScotRail's "new and upgraded train" announcement, Councillor Bremner said: "As I understand it, we will not be realising any rolling stock upgrade or shorter journeys in the immediate future.
"I can’t imagine that following the announcement that Abellio will have its franchise cancelled we are going to see any motivation on its part to improve the service on the far north line, and I have written to the cabinet minister for transport to discuss the abysmal public transport service we are receiving here.
"It would appear that we are the forgotten north. There is a lot of talk about the need to address declining population, diversification and regeneration – some of us are working hard locally in respect of that.
"We desperately need the attention of the Scottish Government and the agencies it is funding over the plight we have here – trains, buses and planes."
Also highlighted during the meeting on the train was the recent experience of disabled passengers and their family members who had a "totally unacceptable" journey following the failure of the early morning train from Wick to Inverness, as previously reported.
The ScotRail fleet manager reiterated a profound apology to the passengers who were inconvenienced by the delay at Lairg due to the breakdown of another train at Invergordon.
Councillor Bremner said: "There is a commitment to ensure this never happens again, including looking at providing immediate onward passage for vulnerable and disabled passengers by taxi."
On his return journey Councillor Bremner was among the passengers who had to endure the freezing cold again only a matter of weeks after he himself had reported a failure of the heating system on the train.
"Many others have complained about this over past weeks and months," he said.
He also pointed out that having no catering service on the north line was becoming a regular occurrence and he had offered the ScotRail manager a cup of tea from his own flask on the trip south.
He added: "There was no catering again on my return journey from Glasgow to Inverness, a journey of over three-and-a-half hours. I am led to believe that this is due to staffing issues, but it doesn’t seem that there is any commitment or effort to try and resolve this.
"I would welcome some of the £475 million investment to simply achieve a comfortable travel experience on our current rolling stock with a reliable catering service.
"New or upgraded trains aren’t going to appear on our lines for several reasons in the immediate future – so, surely, this isn’t too much to ask."
Councillor Bremner is now following through on his discussion and is speaking to others at ScotRail about accessibility of railway stations and improvements in catering.
