ScotRail promises more seats and better trains for East Renfrewshire services

Changes to ScotRail timetables are due to come into effect form Sunday, May 19.

Announcing the changes to its timetable which comes into effect from this Sunday, May 19, ScotRail says it will enhance services with the introduction of more high-speed trains and brand-new class 385 electric trains.

Some of the improvements include:

• Barrhead to Glasgow – four more carriages at peak times, providing an extra 3000 seats on weekdays;

• Glasgow to East Kilbride – this service, which stops at Thornliebank, Giffnock, Clarkston and Busby stations, will have more peak-time trains operating with six carriages, providing more than 1000 additional seats on weekdays;

Glasgow South electrics – many of the oldest trains will be removed and replaced with new class 385 electric trains.

Many services to and from Glasgow city stations will also benefit from additional carriages, providing more seats, and newer trains.

ScotRail Alliance managing director Alex Hynes said: “The timetable changes we are making will see even more improvements on Scotland’s railway, with the unprecedented investment in new trains and infrastructure delivering faster journeys, more seats and more services for our customers.

“We’re now providing 115,000 extra seats every day since the start of the franchise, and everyone across the ScotRail Alliance is working hard to deliver the service our customers deserve.”

East Renfrewshire MP Paul Masterton welcomed the planned improvements in rail services, insisting action needed to be taken to tackle the various problems experienced by passengers.

He said: “People living in East Renfrewshire rightly expect the highest standards of train services and on too many occasions in recent times, this has not been the case.”

Jackson Carlaw MSP added that many constituents had raised concerns about overcrowding on trains.

He said: “It is good that the firm date of May 19 has now been confirmed by ScotRail for the introduction of the additional carriages.”

Michael Matheson, the Scottish Government’s cabinet secretary for transport, said ongoing investment was expected to deliver real benefits for passengers.