A significant fall in rail passenger numbers in Fife has sparked calls for action to improve services and end overcrowding.
Figures published by the Office for Road and Rail have revealed there were more than six million entries and exits from the region’s train stations in 2018/19, but that was markedly down 134,000 on the previous year.
Of 19 Fife stations, usage has dropped in 15. That stands in stark contrast to neighbouring Tayside, in which numbers are up in 11 of 16 stations.
Packed trains, stop skipping, delays, disruption and cancellations have all afflicted Fifers in particular in recent times, while demands for fairer pricing for people in the kingdom paying more for equivalent journeys elsewhere, are also growing.
With the majority of stations in Fife reporting a drop in usage last year compared to the likes of Dundee which saw a sharp rise, Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Mark Ruskell has now written to transport secretary Michael Matheson asking why Fife is still waiting for extra rolling stock at peak times and suffering continued overcrowding.
He said: “Given the poor service Fife commuters have had over the last couple of years, it’s no wonder people are choosing less and less to use the railway.
“These figures need to be a wake-up call for the Scottish Government and Scotrail, people in Fife won’t put up with a sub-standard service indefinitely.
“The issue of capacity is one that should have been addressed already.
“We were promised extra carriages for peak time services several years ago now but the timescale for this has continued to slip. Ensuring people have a seat on peak time trains would be the first step to getting commuters back on the railway, and this now needs to be an urgent priority for Fife.
“In the longer term, bringing Scotland’s railway back into public ownership once the current Abellio contract is finished is the best way to ensure we can deliver a reliable, affordable service that is the first choice for Fife’s commuters.”
ScotRail has pointed out the figures are estimates of passenger numbers and noted problems with suppliers had caused a delay in relation to the introduction of refurbished high-speed InterCity trains.
The Courier understands the refurbishment programme has been accelerated following talks between ScotRail, train owner Angel Trains and Wabtec, which is carrying out the refurbishment work.
Until then, Fife customers will not feel the benefits but it is anticipated more peak trains will be formed with six carriages – off-peak will generally be three carriages – and the longer trains will add more than 5,000 extra seats each day.
A ScotRail spokesperson said: “We want to encourage as many people as possible to travel by train, and to make their journey a seamless one.
“The unprecedented recent investment to modernise Scotland’s Railway – £475 million in brand new electric trains, upgraded trains, and in high-speed Inter7City trains connecting Scotland’s seven cities, in Smart ticketing, in new ticket machines, and in station improvements – is delivering more seats and better services for our customers across the country.”
