By Stefan Morkis and James Williamson

THERE HAVE been fresh calls for British Transport Police to retain officers in Dundee after vandals cracked a train’s windscreen with a brick as it passed through the city.

Vandals threw the stone or brick at the National Express train, which was travelling from Aberdeen to Edinburgh as it pulled into Dundee around 7.40pm on Wednesday.

Although no one was injured, the vehicle’s front window was cracked and the driver extremely shaken.

British Transport Police, which is investigating the crime, said the incident could have had “very serious consequences.”

A spokesman said, “A cracked windscreen is not that serious but the potential consequences could have been much worse.

“They could have smashed the windscreen and the driver could have been covered in glass, or even blinded.

“It could have hit one of the side windows and injured a passenger.”

He added that nobody on the train could have seen who threw the missile and police are relying on members of the public providing the information that will lead to the apprehension of those responsible.

Police have appealed for anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

It is believed that the object was thrown from the road above the platform but there are no descriptions of those responsible.

“I would appeal for anyone with any information regarding who may have been responsible to contact me as soon as possible,” said the police spokesman.

Last month, the BTP announced it would withdraw its four staff from Dundee train station.

Although the office in Dundee will remain open, from the end of this month all four officers will be based at Perth station.

Dundee West MP Jim McGovern said Wednesday’s incident demonstrated the need for BTP officers to be based in Dundee.

He said, “This is a very serious incident, which of course could have been much more serious had the stone or brick smashed through the driver’s windscreen.

“The perpetrator of this crime put not only the driver’s life in danger but also those of his passengers.

“I will be again writing to the BTP following this incident to urge them to re-station officers at Dundee train station.”

The BTP has said these changes will have no effect on how crimes like Wednesday’s will be investigated.

“We will investigate this the same way we would as it was in Perth,” said the spokesman.

British Transport Police can be contacted on 0800 405040, or information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.