SNP MSP for Shettleston has slammed ScotRail for cutting services to East End stations. Rail passengers in the east end of Glasgow are set to lose out following the completion of the Queen Street Tunnel upgrade.

The number of trains stopping at stations in the East End on the Glasgow-Airdrie-Edinburgh line, which include Easterhouse, Garrowhill, Shettleston, Carntyne and Bellgrove, will be halved during the day compared to the timetable before the tunnel works began.  Up to March there were four trains per hour to and from Edinburgh (two direct and two requiring a change).  But now there will only be two per hour.

And there are to be no direct trains between Edinburgh and the East End stations during evenings.  Previously there were two each hour.

Another reduction in service is that local trains will no longer run every 15 minutes but will be at less regular intervals.

MSP for Shettleston Constituency John Mason raised concerns with ScotRail before the timetable was announced.

He commented:

“I had hoped that the timetable would return to the previous position of trains stopping at East End stations every 15 minutes as was the case. It is a real let-down and incredibly disappointing that ScotRail are cutting our train service in this way.

“While it may have been reasonable to have a poorer service during the maintenance works it is not acceptable that my constituents should continue to suffer a poorer service going forward.

“I have written to ScotRail regarding my concerns and I very much hope they will look at reversing these cuts.”

You can find a copy of Scotrails response at the following link: 20160805124932214