The Scottish Conservatives are calling on ScotRail to end their emergency Covid timetable and reintroduce a full service.
Workers returning to the office on Monday faced an uncomfortable commute, with packed trains and delays to services because of the ScotRail temporary timetable affecting routes across the Central Belt.
Ahead of a debate in parliament tomorrow, the Scottish Conservatives are questioning just how “temporary” this timetable is after ScotRail announced a further extension into February, which will cause more travel pain for those striving to get to work on time.
ScotRail have cited Covid cases as the reason, but with isolation rules reduced since the start of January, and steep price rises already in place, Shadow Transport Minister Graham Simpson says it’s time for normal service to be resumed.
And, with the nationalisation of ScotRail just weeks away, he is calling on SNP Ministers to intervene to spare commuters further rush-hour nightmares.
Scottish Conservative Shadow Transport Minister Graham Simpson MSP said: “SNP-run ScotRail is on the horizon, but all we’ve seen so far are passengers having to pay more for less - with sharp ticket-price rises and a reduced timetable.
“Temporary timetables were appropriate during the height of the pandemic, but with Covid in retreat the country needs to get back up and running. Returning to the office will help our economic recovery, but it’s not feasible with an inadequate rail service.
“The Transport Minister needs to bring pressure to bear on ScotRail to end the restricted service now, given that isolation requirements have been reduced for over a month.
“Scots cannot be left to suffer the consequences of ScotRail’s cuts indefinitely. It is time that the SNP Government stepped in to pressure ScotRail to resume normal service levels ahead of the imminent nationalisation.”