South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has welcomed plans by Transpennine Express to reinstate a number of axed train services to and from Lockerbie station.

However, the local MSP says the plans still doesn’t go far enough.

From June 2024, TransPennine Express propose to increase the number of trains to and from Lockerbie from 34 trains to 40 trains per day, including the return of the Glasgow to Liverpool service.

Colin Smyth said: “I welcome the news that the number of services to and from Lockerbie is slowly improving.

“This comes on the back of the plans for Grand Union Trains to start a new train service between London and Stirling from June 2025, which includes stops at Lockerbie station.

“However, it still doesn’t go far enough in my opinion.

“I am continuing to call for the full reinstatement of services to pre-pandemic levels, including the return a late evening services from Edinburgh to Lockerbie. Added to this, there are still no direct services to the capital that get in before 9 am.

“The improvements to services are only possible because since TransPennine Express franchise was taken into public ownership and the reliability of services has improved and as a result, so too have the number of passengers from Lockerbie.

“This is great news but it won’t come as a shock to anyone that when trains actually run on time, people feel confident using them.

“It just makes it all the more appalling that the UK Government extended Avanti Rail’s franchise to run trains between London and Glasgow and Edinburgh given how poor their service continues to be.

“I will continue to call for the end to that failing franchise and for all services to be brought under public ownership.”