But instead of getting a better deal for the public, the ideas they have put forward include:
- cancelling the sleeper service
- stopping cross border trains that go to beyond Edinburgh, so there are no direct trains from Dundee, Motherwell, Perth, Inverness, Aberdeen to London or anywhere south of the border
- splitting off the more profitable parts of the ScotRail network
- increasing the cost of peak time tickets
- longer journey times to “improve” punctuality – but with fewer trains
- changes on capacity which could result in overcrowding, being told to wait for the next train, or standing the whole journey
This isn't a serious plan for the future of Scotland's railways. It would have a negative effect in Dundee by removing our direct rail and sleeper services to London. This would not only be inconvenient to rail travelers having to make more changes on their long distance journeys but also have a negative effect on the local economy.
That is why today Scottish Labour has launched a campaign to save Scotland’s railways. We have launched an online petition with a target to get 50,000 signatures opposing these plans.
Last time the SNP floated such crazy transport ideas – charging cyclists for using the pavements – they were thrown out by sheer weight of public opinion.
Labour will be campaigning on the side of Scottish passengers, not on the side of the big train companies.
To register your opposition to this plan and to demand the government in Holyrood think again add your support to our online petition.
