Robert Brown slams Cambuslang train cull

12.00.00am GMT Mon 21st Dec 2009

Glasgow MSP Robert Brown has slammed Scotrail for timetable changes which have cut Cambuslang station out of most services on the Shotts route to Edinburgh.

Mr. Brown took the matter up with Scotrail after train services through Cambuslang station were slashed to just four a day on the Glasgow - Edinburgh via Shotts line.

There are now 28 trains a day which pass straight through Cambuslang on the route to Edinburgh without stopping. However, most of these trains will continue to stop at Bellshill and Uddingston.

The service, which was until last Sunday an hourly service, now stops only at 06.23, 07.24, 18.22 and 23.15 at Cambuslang station.

For many, the 07.24 service arrives too late to be at work in Edinburgh for 9 - with an 08.47 arrival,

Commuters from Cambuslang now face having to get an earlier local train to Bellshill, or Motherwell before waiting to board the service when it stops at Bellshill or Motherwell, after first passing straight through Cambuslang.

For example, to catch the 07.04 to Edinburgh train from Glasgow Central, which passes straight through Cambuslang around 07.14, Cambuslang residents now have to travel on the 07.00 local service to Motherwell and then wait until 07.28 to board the Glasgow-Edinburgh service.

Alternatively Cambuslang travellers can journey into Glasgow Central and walk across to Queen Street for the main Edinburgh service via Falkirk.

Constituents have written to Mr. Brown protesting at the new arrangements.

Robert Brown said:

"This situation with Cambuslang station is ridiculous and entirely unsatisfactory for those who live in Cambuslang who need to travel to Edinburgh or Midlothian for work every day. Cambuslang is a well used station for this.

"It's a huge inconvenience for those living in Cambuslang to leave earlier in the mornings to take an extra journey to arrive at Bellshill or Motherwell just to board a train which until last week stopped at their local station.

"Bellshill station is hardly a warm and sheltering place to wait in the freezing winter mornings and we must find ways to make this situation better if passengers will have to wait there every day.

"Many people from the Cambuslang area find it convenient to get on the Edinburgh train at Cambuslang. Whilst it stops at a lot of stations, it is comfortable and convenient to avoid awkward train changes, and it takes people straight in to Waverley or Haymarket in particular.

"And to have only four trains a day stop at Cambuslang out of a possible 32 is not at all reasonable.

"That's why I've written to Scotrail to complain to ask them to review the situation.

"We must find ways to enhance the connectivity between Cambuslang station and the east coast. It can't take much of a timetable adjustment to resolve this.

"The people who use Cambuslang station travel have commuting needs beyond that of just going into Glasgow Central and back. Scotrail must recognise this"

ends