Reduced timetable concerns could hammer economy in Largs

ScotRail introduced a temporary timetable between Ayrshire and Glasgow last week due to a dispute over pay which has seen union members opt not to work overtime or on rest days.

The rail firm said the move would "provide greater certainty and reliability for customers".

The temporary Ayrshire timetable means there will only be one train every two hours at certain times of the evening. 

The dispute also led to the cancellation of half of all train services to and from Largs on Sunday, with a two-hourly service operating throughout the day on July 14, at the height of the Glasgow Fair holiday weekend.

Kyle Veitch, whose parents Nick and Sara run Sharp's Bar in Largs, said: "The economy in Largs needs all the support it can get so to hear that we may be getting a reduced train service is very disappointing and hopefully the matter can be resolved soon.

Sharps Bar owners Nick and Sara Veitch and staff (Image: Newsquest)

"With cost of living pressures and other factors, it is more important than ever before that pubs and restaurants in Largs are supported."

Conservative councillor Todd Ferguson said: "I am absolutely flabbergasted at this.

"The SNP were nationalising ScotRail and things were meant to improve but as far as I can see things have gone from bad to worse.

"We have discussed with bus services that we need to encourage people to get out and about instead of using cars that they should be using public transport.

"It should be reliable and affordable, but neither of these two things are matching up with the trains, with prices increasing and now this timetable issue.

"It is not fit for purpose as it stands at the moment.

"We need to make it clear that Largs is very much open for business but we need to ensure that we have the public transport means in order for people to travel."

SNP councillor Alan Hill said: "I would like to think the it will be resolved very soon and won't last long.

"Generally, I am sure that they will make sure that there are extra services put on if they are made aware that there are big events taking place in Largs and they will step up when need be. 

"They have tried to make it as amenable as possible given the circumstances and it is good that rather than not have a plan in place, they have an alternative timetable in place so at least people know what the situation is going forward."

A ScotRail spokesperson said: "While we are currently recruiting 160 new drivers – the highest level ever – each year to improve resilience, some rest day working and overtime is still needed to deliver a normal timetable.

"This has historically been the case in the railway and is replicated in other train operators across Britain.

"Reducing the timetable temporarily will mean ScotRail is able to provide a more reliable service for customers instead of late-notice cancellations."

The temporary timetable will see ScotRail operating around 1,660 services each day Monday to Saturday, which the company says is nearly 200 more services than the one introduced in 2022 when there was similar disruption.

The company says its temporary timetable also provides more than 515,000 seats each day, around twice the number of passenger journeys being made.