At its meeting on 4th November, East Dunbartonshire Council resolved as follows:
“ScotRail recently launched a consultation “Fit for the Future”. It is suggested that the purpose of the May 2022 timetable review is to ensure the service meets the needs of customers and the Scottish Government’s aims as Scotland recovers from the pandemic and in the future.
The proposals amount to a reduction in service on the Milngavie line (Westerton, Bearsden, Hillfoot and Milngavie) compared to pre-pandemic service:
Comparisons of the proposed 2022 timetable to the 2019 timetable
- The number of trains operating across off-peak hours during the day has been reduced from four per hour to two
- The number of trains operating on a Saturday during the day has been reduced from four per hour to two
The Council has raised the issue of poor performance on the Milngavie line consistently with ScotRail and the Scottish Government over recent years and a reduction will make it harder to access rail services and will reduce the attractiveness of rail as a mode of travel.
Council believes:
- It is unfathomable, given the climate crisis at a time for action to promote the use of public transport, that access to rail services are being reduced in East Dunbartonshire.
- Our communities and residents who use the Milngavie line should not be disadvantaged by a proposed reduction in service.
- This reduction will make it less attractive for tourists and walkers to come Milngavie, the gateway to the West Highland Way, which is critical to the local economy and tourism in the area.
- It is ill advised to reduce service on a line, which has persistently experienced poor performance and reliability.
- As East Dunbartonshire plans for recovery from the pandemic, service levels should be maintained at the pre-pandemic level to support local recovery.
Council calls on ScotRail, Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government to confirm that services will not be reduced on the Milngavie line and commits to improving service performance.”
As instructed, the Motion was communicated to ScotRail, Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government. ScotRail’s response is appended for Members’ information.