Hourly Trains from Broughty Ferry Beginning 2018-19

I welcome the announcement made earlier this week of an hourly train service from Broughty Ferry beginning in 2018/19. 

As stopping services in Broughty Ferry have previously increased, the travelling public has made good use use of these trains. In fact Broughty Ferry station has recorded the largest percentage increase in passengers at any station in the region.

This is a positive development which I, and many others, have campaigned for. 

In the intervening period before 2018/19, TACTRAN (the regional transport body), ScotRail and Transport Scotland have been charged with developing the fine detail of how these additional train services will run.  For example, will the hourly trains stopping at Broughty Ferry Station connect directly to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen? If travelling north, south or west, at which stations will passengers be able to get a quick connection from the slower stopping train to the express and vice-versa?

I should however like to point out that the Transport Minister in the Scottish Government is rather guilty of exaggeration when describing the impact of extending the life of thirteen, otherwise redundant, 3 carriage diesel trains as a 'rail revolution'.That might have been a more accurate description had he been announcing that lines north of Edinburgh and Glasgow were to be electrified.

There is also a related value for money issue for taxpayers. I think we are entitled to know why the redeployment of these diesel powered trains was not anticipated and included in the tendering of the new ten year franchise which is entirely devolved to the Scottish Government. Dutch operator Abellio only took over running ScotRail on 1st April 2015. Will the cost of 'adding extras' to the existing franchise be best value? Who is responsible for leaving this out of the franchise agreement?

Notwithstanding these issues, an improved frequency of train services for Broughty Ferry should be good for residents, our visitors and tourists as well. 

Link to Ministerial Statement
‘Rail revolution’ means 200 more services and 20,000 more seats for Scots passengers.

Disappointing News from Abellio ScotRail - No Plans for Enhanced Rail Services in Broughty Ferry

Dutch firm Abellio take over running ScotRail trains next year on a ten year franchise. It is very disappointing news for Broughty Ferry that even before they begin running our trains, Abellio ScotRail have indicated that they have no plans and commitments to improve the frequency of train services for Broughty Ferry.

Our regional transport body TACTRAN have played their part in making the case for an hourly service from Arbroath to Glasgow stopping at Broughty Ferry. Clearly, the Scottish Government, who approved the terms of the new franchise bidding process, did not make enhancing our local train services a priority.

Residents in Broughty Ferry will be wondering why Shona Robison MSP was clearly so ineffective in supporting her constituents aspirations for improvements to the frequency of stopping services in The Ferry.

Despite this very disappointing start by Abellio, I am seeking reassurance that the priorities and conditions of the new franchise does not mean that the door has been slammed shut on making any improvements to rail services in The Ferry for the next ten years.

Possibility of Hourly Train Services From Broughty Ferry in New Rail Frachise

I am pleased to hear that regional transport body TACTRAN has recently urged the companies bidding for the new SCOTRAIL franchise for an hourly train service to Glasgow that serves Broughty Ferry. This is supported by TACTRAN's Tay Valley Transport Study of a few years ago and the uplift in passenger numbers since First ScotRail began offering a limited stopping service at our station.


I have called for this stopping service to be one of the conditions in the specification for the new franchise but it seems that it will still be down to the special pleading of our regional transport body if this is to be achieved.


While not directly a franchise issue, there is a remaining important equality issue at the station which Network Rail need to address. Put simply the platforms are set too low for modern trains and it's a very significant step up to board the train and a big drop down when you are alighting. To their credit FirstScotrail have tried to address this with sets of wooden steps placed on the platforms but this was always a bit improvised and doesn't work when trains are not of a consistent length. There were also concerns about the the back draft from the East Coast Mainline trains going through the station at speeds close to 100mph and the steps being blown onto the track. I understand that this issue has been resolved in other stations by constructing a raised section of platform.

ScotRail Impose Above Inflation Fare Increases and No Appreciable Improvements in Broughty Ferry Timetable

Earlier this month, ScotRail increased rail fares for commuters and those needing to travel at 'peak' times by 3.1 per cent, while off-peak tickets were frozen. 

This above inflation increase of 'peak' fares was not matched by any significant improvements to the number of trains stopping in Broughty Ferry on the new timetable that began on 9 December.

Having to pay higher rail fares was disappointing news for all rail passengers in Scotland. It was however particularly disappointing for those who have been put off or inconvenienced by the irregular train times and the long gaps between some services stopping at Broughty Ferry station. 

The current timetable certainly falls far short of the recommendations of the Tay Valley Rail Study. That report made the case for a regular hourly service connecting Broughty Ferry with Dundee, Perth and Glasgow in the west and stations to Aberdeen in the North.

I understand that any more service improvements depend on the Scottish Government specifying these in the new franchise for train services in Scotland which is to be awarded soon.

There was one rather obscure additional Monday - Friday service improvement. There is an additional very early morning train that runs north to Aberdeen calling at Broughty Ferry at 5:46 am. It is the only service of the day which runs through Aberdeen as far as Inverness without changing trains.

Link to the current ScotRail timetable for trains to and from Broughty Ferry Station effective from 9 December 2013

Help to Step Up to Trains at Broughty Ferry Station

Wooden blue painted steps on the platform
Click on image to enlarge

ScotRail have responded to appeals for help for their customers getting on and off trains stopping at Broughty Ferry station. 

They acknowledge that there is a big gap between the height of the platforms and their trains. This requires a big step up or down from passengers which some passengers may find difficult to negotiate.

After an appeal from George Ferguson, the Chairperson of The Broughty Ferry Community Council, First ScotRail have provided two sets of wooden steps on each of the platforms.

It is not clear who is responsible for moving these sets into place and how a passenger that needs help signals this to staff on the trains. I have written to First ScotRail to ask for clarification and to propose that their instructions to passengers about accessing the steps is publicised on the platforms and via announcements on the train.

Completion of Improvements at Broughty Ferry Station

I am pleased to be notified that the improvements at the Railway Station in Broughty Ferry are coming to an end and the vacant space on the down platform is now ready to let to a restaurant business.

This bring to a close a series of improvements that many residents in Broughty Ferry have come to appreciate. The historic former signal box has been restored and erected next to the down platform and the former unused waiting rooms remodeled to make space for a restaurant at the station. Thanks in no small part should go to David Hewick of the Community Council, who so persistently kept asking about the future of the old signal box after it had been dismantled. 

But the improvements have not just been about making the station look good. Importantly the number of stopping train services have increased, including services on Sundays, a special timetable has been issued and distributed in Broughty Ferry and passenger information screens have been erected on the platforms. More recently, following MSP Jenny Marra's Tay Train Tax campaign, which the Courier championed, some ticket prices from our station have been reduced too. Not surprisingly, this has meant that many more folk are letting the Broughty Ferry train take the strain.

Looking to the future, I think we deserve an hourly stopping service. I hope the Scottish Government will have included that in the forthcoming new rail franchise. We also need an automated ticket vending machine.

Rail Fares Down by 20% Won by Scottish Labour

This week many rail fares from Dundee and Broughty Ferry will be reduced by as much as 20%. This is the result of the Tay Train Tax campaign which was led by Jenny Marra, Labour's North East MSP based in Dundee.

For example, an Anytime Return from Broughty Ferry to Glasgow is reduced from £50:40 to £40:40.

These lower fares should put an end to passengers having to buy a confusing series of split tickets to secure the cheapest fare to Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen.

I am sure that regular and occasional rail travellers will appreciate the end of these unjustifiably high fares to and from Dundee and Broughty Ferry stations. These lower fares should also help make the rail fares more attractive.

Link to list of cheaper rail fares from Brought Ferry

Some Broughty Ferry Train Fares Will be Cheaper Too

List of Broughty Ferry Train Fare Reductions
Click on image to enlarge

I was pleased to learn on 2nd April that the Transport Minister, Keith Brown MSP, has announced reduced Dundee rail fares from 19 May 2013 removing anomalies in ticketing prices which had been dubbed the Tay Train Tax.

However a spokesperson for ScotRail had pointed out that the new deal would only end split-ticketing on *more popular journeys*. They had warned that, it may still be possible to find a cheaper deal by stringing together several legs of a journey, or splitting less common fares. It was not clear from this statement whether the changes announced by The Transport Minister would also help remove anomalies in the rail fares to and from Broughty Ferry which I have regularly highlighted.

I therefore contacted ScotRail for clarification. I was pleased to receive a quick response from ScotRail and relieved that they were able to confirm a range of lower ticket prices for travellers using Broughty Ferry station. For example:

Broughty Ferry to Glasgow Anytime Single

Exisiting Price        New Price

£26:30                   £20:70

While all these ticket reductions listed are welcome, I know many travellers reply on saver tickets and few if any of these seem to be reduced.

I am glad that the Scottish Government and ScotRail have been prepared to listen to representations from me and regular rail users from the Ferry. I hope they are still listening because we still need a more regular train service to go with the new train fares plus a ticket vending machine on the platform. I also hope a regular hourly service for Broughty Ferry will be included in the new rail franchise for Scotland when it goes out to tender.

Cheaper Rail Fares from Dundee From 19 May BUT Will This Apply to Ferry Fares Too?

I'm pleased that the Transport Minister, Keith Brown MSP, has announced reduced Dundee rail fares from 19 May 2013. Over 1500 "split ticketing" inconsistencies throughout Scotland will end thanks to a £2.28 million grant from Transport Scotland.

It is claimed that the move will ensure that end-to-end fares will be at least 50p cheaper than buying one ticket part of the way to a destination, and a second ticket to complete the journey. These changes should remove expensive anomalies in fares from Dundee which gave rise to the Tay Tax campaign led by Dundee based Labour MSP, Jenny Marra.

For example, next month fares from Dundee to Portlethan will be cut by £11.30 (41%), to Aberdeen by £9.40 (34%), to Edinburgh by £7 (30%) and to Stirling by £5 (27%).

The new cheaper fares will be very welcome news for Dundee rail commuters. Dundee businesses will also welcome the cheaper fares as this could help attract more visitors into the City. With the VandA development, cheaper fares into Dundee should help build visitor numbers.

ScotRail have pointed out while the new deal will end split-ticketing on more popular journeys, it may still be possible to find a cheaper deal by stringing together several legs of a journey, or splitting less common fares.

It is not clear whether the changes will also help remove anomalies in the rail fares to and from Broughty Ferry which I have regularly highlighted. I hope that fares from our station are not some of the less popular routes ScotRail and the Scottish Government have overlooked. I have written to ScotRail to ask for clarification on this.

Call for More Frequent Visits to Broughty Ferry Level Crossing by British Transport Police Camera Enforcement Van

Network Rail and British Transport Police have recently increased their number of mobile vans with CCTV. I hope this means that we an expect more of their visits to the Gray Street level crossing in Broughty Ferry. This should be good for our community in two ways.

Primarily, I am very concerned to hear continuing reports of drivers and pedestrians ignoring the flashing warning lights and dodging the barriers at the Level Crossing. This is reckless and endangers life and limb. I therefore hope that more visits by the mobile monitoring units will ensure more compliance with the Highway Code and safety first.

Secondly, I am concerned that if there is a serious incident at the crossing, Network Rail might use that tragedy as a pretext to close the level crossing. But what might solve their safety problems would have serious consequences for the future of central Broughty Ferry. Bearing in mind that all the other entry points to our central area are over bridges or under the railway at St Vincent Street, if the level crossing were closed it would be more difficult to drive into and out of our shopping centre. As a result, trading conditions for shops and services might become even more challenging.

So I hope that reckless drivers and pedestrians should take heed of the warnings from British Transport Police about the dangers of trying to beat the barrier. This is not only for the sake of their own safety but also for retaining the historic public access over the railway at the level crossing.

I have written to British Transport Police to invite them to make more unannounced visits to Gray Street.

Sunday Rail Services Calling at Broughty Ferry Begin with the 10:34 Train to Glasgow

Last Sunday rail services resumed at Broughty Ferry station after a gap of more than twenty years. 

As part to the new timetable effective from 9 December 2012, there are seven trains running every Sunday, four via Dundee and three heading north to Aberdeen. 

The first train of every Sunday is the 10:34 train via Dundee to Glasgow. As the visual display screen spells out, this is the train calls at Dundee, Perth, Gleneagles, Dunblane, Stirling and Glasgow Queen Street.

The Sunday timetable is as follows:

Down Platform - trains via Dundee

• 10:34 to Glasgow calling at Dundee, Perth, Gleneagles, Dunblane, Stirling and Glasgow Queen Street
• 14:00 to Edinburgh calling at Dundee, Leuchars, Kirkcaldy, Inverkeithing Haymarket and Edinburgh Waverley
• 20:13 to Edinburgh calling at Dundee, Leuchars, Kirkcaldy, Inverkeithing Haymarket and Edinburgh Waverley
• 23:28 to Perth calling at Dundee, Invergowrie and Perth

Up Platform - trains towards Aberdeen

• 11:18 to Aberdeen calling atdd Cdarnoustie, Arbroath, Montrose, Laurencekirk, Stonehaven and Aberdeen
• 17:28 to Aberdeen calling at Carnoustie, Arbroath, Montrose, Stonehaven and Aberdeen
• 22:28 to Aberdeen, Calling at Arbroath, Montrose, Stonehaven, Portlethan and Aberdeen

Read or download the new timetable for trains to and from the Ferry

Sunday Trains Return to Broughty Ferry After More Than a 20 Year Gap

At precisely 10:34 on Sunday 9 December 2012, the Aberdeen to Glasgow train will stop at Broughty Ferry and make a bit of local history. It will be the first Sunday train service in more than twenty years. 

This train service is part of the the new ScotRail timetable which begins on Sunday. The new timetable features four Sunday trains going west via Dundee (one to Glasgow, two to Edinburgh and one to Perth) and three trains going north to Aberdeen on Sundays. On weekdays there will be seven trains going via Dundee towards Glasgow or Edinburgh and eight trains going North to Aberdeen.

Click on this link to read and download the new timetable.

In the early 1990s the then British Rail suspended most of its services stopping at Broughty Ferry. In fact they reduced their service to just a handful of trains a week. 

Over the last couple of years and after sustained local pressure, train services have been gradually increased; not enough but sufficient to stimulate increasing passenger numbers and a hope that we might get The Ferry properly reconnected to the rail network. 

While I acknowledge the recent improvements to the rail timetable, I shall continue to make the case for an increased hourly service from Broughty Ferry and the introduction of fair ticketing prices from Broughty Ferry. I hope the Scottish government will build these reasonable requirements into the conditions of the new franchise for rail services in Scotland due to come into effect in 2014.

Broughty Ferry Train Times from 9th December 2012

BFerryTrainTimes_leaflet9.12.2012

Click on right hand icon above to view timetable in full screen

ScotRail Fail to Reassure Passengers from Broughty Ferry About Fair Fares

At the Broughty Ferry Library on Tuesday 6 November, John Yellowlees

the External Relations Manager of First ScotRail talked to members of the Community Council and the public about the development of train services at our station. In response to two questions I had posed, which he was unable to answer on the night, he emailed the Secretary of the Community Council with his responses. 

I had first put to John Yellowlees a question about higher fares from Broughty Ferry which a constituent had raised with me. The fact is that in some instances the return fare from Dundee to Aberdeen is £4.20 cheaper than the equivalent but slightly shorter return journey to Aberdeen from Broughty Ferry. In fact when I inquired about this at the ticket office at Dundee Station, I was advised to buy a cheaper return ticket from Dundee and get on at Broughty Ferry. John Yellowlees replied:

"We have two levels of Advance fare. The lower of the two is available only on a small number of high demand flows where such deep discounting is viable. The higher level of Advance will be the same or similar for both stations." (Broughty Ferry and Dundee)

My second question was about under counting  of rail users journeys to and from Broughty Ferry if they were buying tickets to and from Dundee, and the potential effect on future investment. John Yellowlees didn't answer my question but warned:

"On the risk of undercounting, if passengers use a Dundee ticket to travel from Broughty Ferry, then they are liable to purchase a new ticket as it would not be valid."

I think it's nonsense to not make Broughty Ferry fares equivalent to the best fares to and from Dundee. It is disappointing to hear that ScotRail is not committed to look into these anomalies and sort these out. Even worse we are told that passengers that follow the advice of ScotRail staff at the booking office in Dundee might be penalised and have to buy another ticket if they are caught getting on at Broughty Ferry with a ticket from Dundee. This is Alice in Wonderland stuff.

I think that ScotRail should sort this out. 

On their website ScotRail claim that:
"Providing a safe and reliable service and continuous improvement to performance levels remain at the top of our agenda. We will continue to provide value for money services and to invest in train refurbishments leading to improve reliability and station enhancements to ensure a safer and more comfortable environment." 
I think some of their fare paying passengers in Broughty Ferry may be doubtful about the commitment of ScotRail to live up to these bold claims.

Agenda for Broughty Ferry Community Council Meeting Tuesday 6 November 2012 7pm

At the next meeting of the Broughty Ferry Community Council on Tuesday 6 November, there will be an opportunity to find out more about two important local issues:

Future Development of Train Services at Broughty Ferry Station



and

The proposed City Council's Draft Development Plan for Dundee October 2012 which has just been issued for public consultation.

A representative from First ScotRail and two senior Planners from the Council will be present at the meeting to brief members of the public and the Community Councillors about their respective issues.

Broughty Ferry Community Council Meeting 

Tuesday 6 November 2012 beginning at 7pm

Broughty Ferry Library, Queen Street, Broughty Ferry DD5 2HN

Welcome for Sunday Trains Serving Broughty Ferry from 9 December 2012

I welcome the latest announcement from Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership (TACTRAN) and First ScotRail that a Sunday service is to be introduced in the new timetable at Broughty Ferry Station beginning on Sunday 9 December.

Currently no services call at Broughty Ferry on Sunday and this will increase to 7 calls as follows:

Northbound

09:37 Glasgow - Aberdeen service will call at Broughty Ferry at 11:18

16:05 Edinburgh - Aberdeen service will call at Broughty Ferry at 17:28

21:00 Edinburgh - Aberdeen service will call at Broughty Ferry at 22:28

Southbound

09:24 Aberdeen - Glasgow service will call at Broughty Ferry at 10:34

12:47 Aberdeen - Edinburgh service will call at Broughty Ferry at 14:00

19:07 Aberdeen - Edinburgh service will call at Broughty Ferry at 20:13

22:27 Aberdeen - Perth  service will call at Broughty Ferry at 23:38

This announcement follows confirmation in September that Broughty Ferry Station is to receive an increase of 2 additional calls from Monday to Saturday with effect from December 2012.

I have written to TACTRAN to request the reissuing of an updated timetable for Broughty Ferry Train Services to coincide with the new timetable beginning on Sunday 9 December 2012.

I shall continue to press for a regular hourly train service on Northbound and Southbound trains from Broughty Ferry station. This will be more convenient and predictable for rail travellers and good for the environment. I will also continue to campaign for Fair Fares for local rail users. 

Fair Fares Please for Broughty Ferry Trains

Recent publicity about the Tay Train Tax has highlighted the complexity and unfairness of the train fares from Dundee to Glasgow and Edinburgh. But there are some other unjustified differences in local train fares. 

As a Ferry Councillor, I am concerned about complaints from rail passengers from Broughty Ferry who report other unjustified and unfair anomalies.

One I double checked on Scotrail's website earlier this week is the difference in the cost of an advanced single taking the 16:03 Aberdeen train either to Dundee or Broughty Ferry. As the journey south as far as The Ferry is slightly shorter, one might expect the fare would be a bit less or the same cost. It was disappointing to find that the slightly shorter train journey on the same train service is significantly more expensive.
Advance Single specified train only 16:03 Aberdeen - Dundee             £ 6.60
Advance Single specified train only 16:03 Aberdeen - Broughty Ferry £10:80

The £4:20 difference is clearly unfair and unjustified.
Of course the savvy train traveller who regularly uses this route will be inclined to buy a ticket to Dundee and just alight one stop early. This may however have the effect of not crediting Broughty Ferry with a passenger whose journey accrues to Dundee instead.

I would be interested to hear from passengers about any other such pricing issues on train fares to and from Broughty Ferry.
laurie.bidwell@dundeecity.gov.uk

In the meanwhile, I have written to Scotrail to ask that they add this to the list of issues about fares to be sorted out. If they are really serious about building up the volume of passengers using the trains directly to and from Broughty Ferry they will need to fix differential fares like this. Fair's Fare!

Good and Bad News from Scotrail for Train Services from Broughty Ferry Station

There was good and bad news about the rail services to and from Broughty Ferry station earlier this week. Would you like the good or bad news first?

Last September, I welcomed the announcement about improvements to the schedule of trains that were to be stopping at Broughty Ferry Station when the then new national rail timetable was coming into force on Sunday 11 December 2011. This included four more trains a day going south and three more trains a day heading north. These improvements were introduced on a pilot basis to be evaluated in 2012.

The good news is that from Sunday 9 December 2012, one further train a day will stop at Broughty Ferry in both directions. This afternoon service will help fill one of the gaps in the current timetable.

The bad news is that ScotlRail will not be delivering an hourly timetable of stopping trains at Broughty Ferry on the Aberdeen to Glasgow and Glasgow to Aberdeen route. There will continue to be long gaps between services and it will remain difficult, if not impossible to commute into Dundee from The Ferry unless you have unusual working hours.

I have been saving this for last. The best news is most definitely that the pilot programme of improved stopping trains at Broughty Ferry has been judged a success on the basis of growing passenger numbers. So our rail services in The Ferry are no longer a pilot programme. In other words, we are no longer under threat of returning to a station with virtually no train services. For that we have to thank all those passengers who have voted with their feet and let the train take the strain.

Finally, I shall continue to press for a comprehensive timetable of stopping trains at our station. This makes sense environmentally and practically.

More Trains Stopping at Broughty Ferry Station Please ScotRail

On Monday I was notified by Broughty Ferry Community Council that John Yellowlees, the External Relations Manager at ScotRail, will be attending their meeting on the evening of Tuesday 6 November. Apparently, one of the items he will be covering will be the new timetable for Broughty Ferry begining in early December.

I understand passengers number using trains to and from Broughty Ferry have risen significantly since the  increase in the number of stopping trains on the timetable that came into force from 12 December 2011. 

What would make a significant boost to passengers number is the development of a consistent hourly service to Glasgow and Aberdeen with changes in Dundee for services to Edinburgh. This would not only be more predictable for the travelling public, but good for ScotRail revenues and kinder to the environment.

I hope John Yellowtrees won't be coming empty handed to The Ferry.  We could do with some good news about more stopping trains at our station on new timetable coming into force a couple of weeks before Christmas.

Folk in Broughty Ferry deserve a regular train service to match the improvements on the platform such as the digital information screens.

We also need a regular and frequent train service between Dundee and The Ferry so that, when the V and A opens in 2015, visitors can easily extend their visit from the water front site in Dundee to the centre of Broughty Ferry.

Replica Broughty Signal Box Nearing Completion

The external work on the replica Broughty Ferry Signal Box is almost complete this week. With the scaffolding down, it is easier to see and appreciate what has been achieved. In the picture you can perhaps make out the old Broughty Ferry station sign has been fixed to the side of the box parallel with the platforms. If you want to compare and contrast this view with a view of the previous signal box click on this link.