A LARGS councillor has slammed ScotRail's decision to press ahead with slashing opening hours at the Largs trains station ticket office.

It will close at 1.30pm Monday to Thursdays, 5.30pm Friday and Saturdays and 1pm on Sundays, the rail company have announced after a consultation period ended.

Councillor Alex Gallagher slammed the decision after a string of recent violent late-night incidents on the line.

He said: "This is not right for the service or for the safety or security of passengers.

"It just isn't proper given the problems we have been having on the trains to Largs. It is certainly not a solution to close the ticket office earlier in the day."

Concerns were also raised when the proposals were announced regarding the effect it will have on people with disabilities accessing the station.

The rail company identified a total of nine stations - one of which was Largs - where the number of booked assists outside of the new opening times could be an issue.

ScotRail however insist access and passenger safety will not be compromised.

Phil Campbell, the operator's head of customer operations, said: "The safety and security of our customers and staff is ScotRail’s number one priority.

"We believe that by actively targeting anti-social behaviour, we can proactively work to make our rail network safer.

"In the past three months, ScotRail has introduced a Travel Safe Team which has targeted a number of stations and routes within Ayrshire. We have seen a drop in reported events during and after the anti-social behaviour exercises.

"ScotRail will commit to extending the staffing hours at Largs station during periods where numbers of booked assistance are high.

"Amending the ticket office opening hours will remove the need for staff to be behind the ticket office window when the station is less busy and means staff will instead be able to focus on other key duties."

The firm says customers have increasingly been using online options or ticket vending machines, rather than ticket offices.

This shift in customer patterns prompted the review.

The public consultation was organised by Transport Focus, the independent watchdog for transport users.

The full feedback can be viewed at https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/publication/scotrail-ticket-office-consultation/