Moray SNP News

LOCHHEAD TO MEET ABELLIO SCOTRAIL BOSS OVER MORAY RAIL SERVICES

Richard Lochhead MSP will meet with the Managing Director of Abellio ScotRail, Alex Hynes, tomorrow [Wednesday 26th June] to discuss Moray’s rail services.

Whilst there has been significant investment by the Scottish Government in the Aberdeen to Inverness line, which serves Moray, concerns continue to be raised with the MSP about the reliability of services, fare anomalies, and the shortage of seats on commuter services.

Mr Lochhead has sought feedback from rail users in Moray and will raise local concerns with the Managing Director when they meet.

Speaking ahead of the meeting Richard Lochhead MSP said:

“Whilst we’ve seen significant investment in Moray's rail infrastructure from the Scottish Government, with a new train station at Forres and improvements on the line to allow for an increased services to help cut journey times, I am regularly contacted by constituents about the quality of service being delivered by ScotRail.

“The investment in local infrastructure from the Scottish Government is welcome, however, for local rail users to benefit from that we need ScotRail to deliver a reliable service. 

“Constituents contact me frequently to share their frustrations at services being cancelled meaning they can’t get to work on time.  And when services are running, there’s very often a shortage of carriages and seats, meaning trains are overcrowded and journeys are uncomfortable – this is particularly a problem for disabled passengers.

“The cost of travelling by train has also been raised with me and I know there are still some fare anomalies, as well as questions over the whether passengers are getting value for money.

“I do think people locally are close to running out of patience – when I posted on social media about my upcoming meeting I was inundated with messages and emails from Moray rail users unhappy with local services. I’ll be conveying all of these concerns and frustrations to ScotRail’s Managing Director and urging him to take action, as it’s clear that folk in Moray need to start seeing improvements quickly.”

ENDS

Notes:

Recent rail improvements to the line at Elgin and Forres, which aim to increase services and cut journey times between Aberdeen and Inverness, include:

•             1.5km of new track at Forres

•             New Forres Station and link road

•             1.2km of new track at Elgin

•             Extended platforms at Elgin

•             Upgrading of Elgin level crossing to a full barrier, CCTV crossing

•             Removal of redundant signal boxes at Elgin and Forres

•             Upgrading of signalling systems between Elgin and Inverness