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
On Monday I took the 09:06 East Coast London train from Dundee station. On the train, I was delighted to meet my Labour colleague Marlyn Glen, the former MSP for North East Scotland. I was going to Edinburgh but, like many of the folk who got on the train with their cases, Marlyn was travelling down to London.
When I am travelling by rail to a destination beyond Edinburgh, I always look to see whether there is a long distance through train to save me changing trains on the way. I also value the East Coast 125 express services as they usually have shorter journey times to Edinburgh. Additionally, I prefer the layout in their carriages with plenty of tables to sit and read my paper at or to plug in my notebook computer.
These through trains are also a boon to folk struggling with their holiday luggage or parents and carers with children and push chairs.
I am sure many residents in Dundee value East Coast, Cross Country and Caledonian Sleeper long distance train services that run to and from Dundee. If the SNP government's proposal for the future of rail services in Scotland goes ahead, we would be left stranded in Dundee with just slower shuttle train services south and a compulsory change of train at Edinburgh.
If like me you think we should "hang on the what we've got" join the campaign for a rethink on these issues and register your support with the Scottish Labour campaign.
