The nationalisation of ScotRail could throw plans for new stations at Cumnock and Mauchline into jeopardy, according to MSP Sharon Dowey.
It comes as Ms Dowey has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport Michael Matheson MSP following news that 30 per cent of Scotland’s rail services are to be cut “temporarily”.
Research has shown that Mauchline Train Station could serve over 120,000 people per year, while Cumnock could service 200,000.
READ MORE: Proposals to reopen two former East Ayrshire railway lines
As such, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP has said that it is in Scotland’s national interest to re-open these stations.
MSP Dowey said: “With ScotRail now within the control of the Scottish Government, they need to put this power to good use and help get East Ayrshire back on track.
“Considering that Scotland is on a mission to reach net zero by 2045, I’m amazed that instead of ramping up public transport services, the Scottish Government is cutting them by 30 per cent. Coupled with the proposed incinerator at Killoch, it makes a mockery of their plans to improve the environment.
“We need to persuade the public to start using public transport, but that can’t happen if local residents don’t have a train station nearby. It’s not acceptable that Mauchline and Cumnock residents have to make an additional journey to Ayr or Auchinleck if they want to access Scotland’s rail service.
READ MORE: Tories back idea of new rail stations for Cumnock and Mauchline
“The SNP have said that net zero is a priority for their government, but it’s starting to look like they aren’t interested in getting people to ditch their cars for a cleaner and greener alternative.”
SNP MSP Elena Whitham said: “The cancellations are disruptive, and the situation is not acceptable and must get back to normal as quickly as possible. The temporary timetable has proved to be necessary because of the pay dispute between ScotRail and ASLEF but we all want that dispute to be settled as soon as possible.
“I understand that the Scottish Government expect the timetable to return to normal as quickly as possible.”
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