Fife commuters are facing a double whammy of cuts, making it harder to get to work on time.
A reduction in the number of carriages on a rush-hour route to Edinburgh has seen passengers packed into crowded trains.
Now Scottish Citylink has announced it is withdrawing a morning service to Dundee from Halbeath park and ride, the only one of the firm’s services to get to the city from there for 9am.
The moves have been described as a major blow for Fifers who work outwith the region and MSPs have pledged to campaign to reverse the decisions.
Train travellers have been complaining for weeks about cramped conditions on a key morning service to Edinburgh.
Despite a statement from ScotRail earlier this month that it had actually increased the number of carriages on the Fife circle line, managing director Phil Verster has now told MSP Claire Baker that the 7.09am service from Dundee had seen a reduction.
He insisted, however, that the cut was not due to carriages being diverted to the new Borders route. He revealed that since the beginning of September, the service which previously ran with six carriages now had only four. He added that it had run with just three or even two coaches on eight occasions.
Mrs Baker said she was pleased ScotRail had finally recognised there was a reduced service.
“It’s unacceptable that people are having to travel on two or three coach trains,” she said.
“It doesn’t meet demand on that line which is a key route for people working in Edinburgh. It is not acceptable that people are having to travel in uncomfortable conditions.”
She added: “It is very concerning there is no intention to put this service back to six coaches and the best people can expect is a four-coach train.”
Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser branded Citylink’s move short-sighted at a time when people were being encouraged to use public transport.
The company has defended its decision to remove the 7.15am from Edinburgh to Dundee and Aberdeen from November 23, saying it is due to low passenger demand.
The service leaving an hour earlier will no longer stop at Halbeath.
“In practice this means that commuters cannot reach Dundee before 9.45am travelling by Citylink/Megabus from Halbeath,” said Mr Fraser.
“Ultimately there is a commercial argument for bus companies who obviously cannot operate routes at a loss, however for people relying on these services to get to work these cuts come as a major blow.”