A Fife MSP says a review of controversial changes to an early-morning commuter train must come soon.
ScotRail’s decision to terminate the 7.54am service from Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh Waverley which called at Kinghorn, Burntisland, Aberdour, Dalgety Bay and Inverkeithing caused widespread fury.
The firm said the service was effectively being merged into an existing service that departs Dundee at 7.20am, calling at Kirkcaldy, Kinghorn, Burntisland, Aberdour and Dalgety Bay 12 minutes later than at present. This arrives in Edinburgh at 8.56am meaning most commuters would be late for work.
A new service which arrives in the capital earlier has also been introduced but it calls at Kirkcaldy and Inverkeithing only and misses out the coastal towns and villages.
Following representations from many politicians it later said it would review the timetable changes.
In a letter to Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser, ScotRail again said it will review its latest timetable changes following the withdrawal of the service on December 11.
While pleased, the MSP says the review must take place quickly.
Mr Fraser wrote to Steve Montgomery, managing director of ScotRail, stating: ”Thousands of commuters depend on Fife train services and we need a reliable and quality service. It is vital to communities in Fife to have a service that allow commuters to arrive in Edinburgh in good time for work in the morning and that any changes to the timetable enhance train services in Fife.”
In response to Mr Fraser’s letter, Mr Montgomery said: ”In response to customer comments and representations from other politicians, we have pledged to review the latest timetable and, in consultation with Transport Scotland, will seek to make further changes to include south Fife commuters and to bring forward the arrival time into Edinburgh from its current 8.59am.”
Mr Fraser added: ”Although it is disappointing to see the withdrawal of Fife train services, I welcome ScotRail’s commitment to review the changes with the intention to improve morning services for south Fife commuters … If we are to encourage people out of their cars and on to the train, we must have a service that is reliable and has enough capacity for all the commuters who want to use it.
”The last thing that ScotRail should be doing is taking away services, especially important morning services.”