South Scotland MSP and Scottish Labour’s Transport Spokesperson Colin Smyth has pressed ScotRail and the Scottish Government following delays, overcrowding and cancellations on the Borders Railway.

Colin Smyth has been contacted by numerous constituents over the past few mornings, many sharing pictures of extremely overcrowded trains. On Monday passengers described on social media that around 20 passengers were left on the platform at Brunstane Station while an overcrowded train left the platform. Similarly, this morning (11 December) passengers described on social media that over 30 passengers were left standing on the platform while an overcrowded train left.

In the latest performance measures the Edinburgh to Tweedbank service was reported at 86.4% Public Performance Measure (PPM), which is 4.87% lower than their target PPM.

Scot Rail launched their timetable improvements on Sunday 9^th of December which they promised, “will deliver faster journeys, more seats, and more services for customers.”

Colin Smyth MSP said, “Scot Rail promised passengers on the Borders Railway that their timetable improvements would see improved services but so far passengers have been left with an even worse service. Especially on early morning services passengers have been faced with delays and cancellations and when the trains do turn up they are overcrowded.

Our railways are supposed to transport goods from supplier to customer and passengers from home to work. However, under the operation of the current ScotRail franchise and management of the SNP Government it is failing in that basic task. I have written to the SNP’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson, and Scot Rail’s Managing Director, Alex Hynes, demanding answers as to why the quality of services continues to deteriorate for passengers on the Borders Railway and when we can expect to see the extra carriages we were promised. It is shocking that passengers are being let down so badly. The very least the Scottish Government and ScotRail can do is freeze fares instead of going ahead with yet another increases in ticket prices in January.”