Stranraer rail franchise – Ministerial discussions
Councillors this week secured some assurances about the future of rail services in the region. Following a meeting with Derek MacKay MSP, Minister for Transport and the Isles, Councillor Colin Smyth, Chair of the Council’s Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee and Marion McCutcheon and Jim McColm, Chair and Vice Chair of the Wigtown Area Committee, declared themselves “reasonably content” with the assurances given by the Minister.
Earlier this year Councillors agreed to send a letter to the Minister expressing concern over the loss of direct services between Stranraer and Glasgow under the new ScotRail franchise to be operated by Abellio after 31 March 2015.
Following receipt of the letter, the meeting was set up to allow the Minister to hear the concerns first hand. During discussions, the Minister confirmed that he had asked officials at Transport Scotland and Abellio to review the timetable, and had secured agreement to reinstate two northerly and four southerly direct services daily via Kilmarnock.
Councillor McCutcheon said: “Whilst the proposed direct services between Stranraer and Glasgow are slower than the majority of current direct services, the Minister was clear that he could not justify any further moves on cost grounds, given the number of passenger numbers on the line. However, the Minister indicated that further reviews of services would be undertaken if demand for services grew on the line, so we have impressed upon both the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland the importance of the line being properly promoted.
Councillor Smyth was pleased to note that the concerns highlighted by both Committees over access for disabled people at Ayr Station, where the majority of passengers will change for services to and from Stranraer, would be looked at during the life of the new franchise.
Councillor Smyth said, “The expectation is that passengers travelling to and from Stranraer on non-direct services will change at Ayr but at present access for people with disabilities is poor, so we highlighted the importance of this being tackled”.
Councillor Smyth also stated that the Dumfries and Galloway Councillors had taken the opportunity to raise the issue of the disparity in rail fares between stations in the region compared to those in Ayrshire. “No one was able to provide a reasoned defence of these differentials,” he said. This is an issue we will continue to broach with Abellio, and the Scottish Government which ultimately sets fares policy, along with our colleagues in SWestrans.”
Councillor Smyth welcomed confirmation that the timescales given for delivery of improved rolling stock (improved seating, catering and wi fi) on the services (December 2017) was an “upper limit” and that if this could be achieved earlier it would be put in place.
Councillor Smyth said, “It is all very well that the new franchise will mean improved rolling stock on services but the timescale of December 2017 will do little to improve the experience of rail travellers for the next two years. We will continue to put pressure on to have these improvements completed as early as possible”.
Councillor Smyth welcomed, in particular, the Minister’s statement that the future of the Stranraer line was secure at least for the length of the forthcoming franchise. He also recognised the contribution of Mhairi McKenna Chair of SAYLSA at the meeting, saying that “Community Rail Partnerships, such as SAYLSA are a key vehicle for developing uptake and activity on rural lines, and engaging positively with the rail industry during the lifetime of the franchise.”
Abellio will take control of the ScotRail franchise on 1 April 2015, with new timetables scheduled for implementation in December 2015 (Stranraer-Glasgow) and December 2017 (Carlisle-Dumfries-Glasgow).
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