ScotRail has been forced to cut or truncate more train services on the Glasgow to Stranraer line this week due to the impact of Covid-19 on staff availability.

Six services on the line were affected from Saturday (9 January) with a number of trains between Ayr, Girvan and Stranraer no longer running from Monday to Saturday.

This comes on the back of a series of timetable reductions and changes in the south west in December due to falling passenger numbers.

The operator said passenger numbers nationally have reduced from 15 per cent to 10 per cent of normal across its network following the start of the latest lockdown in mainland Scotland.

South Scotland MSP and Scottish Labour’s Transport Spokesperson Colin Smyth said: “While the situation we are currently living through is completely unprecedented, the reduction of these vital services is still a blow to rail travel in the south west of Scotland.

“I recognise that considerably fewer people have been travelling for months due to Covid-19 travel advice urging them against non-essential travel on public transport but there is a real fear that when the situation starts to improve, and more people start using our railways again, that these services won’t be reinstated.

“The recent increase in Covid cases in the Stranraer area remains a huge concern and this has had a direct impact on staff availability on these train services. I would urge everyone to continue to adhere strictly to the rules and stay at home as much as possible.”