LOCKERBIE passengers are again missing out as peak rail fares are scrapped across Scotland and ticket prices slashed in parts of Dumfries and Galloway.
A new pilot will see cheaper, greener rail prices, with cuts to the cost of travelling between Dumfries and Carlisle, starting on October 2.
It will last for six months during which the price of a single ticket between the two destinations will fall from the current £13.40 to £7.
The initiative is being funded by the Scottish Government and run by ScotRail but as they don’t operate in Lockerbie, it will not apply to any services running through mid Annandale.
Dumfries and Galloway Green Party Westminster candidate Laura Moodie hopes it can be extended further.
Welcoming it in principle, she said: “I’m delighted that with Scottish Greens in government we are introducing this national trial, ending the two-tier pricing system and helping thousands of people across Dumfries and Galloway to cut costs while leaving the car at home.
“It’s a game-changing opportunity to transform habits, cut congestion, save money, and make our communities safer, cleaner and greener places to live and work.”
However, she described Dumfries and Galloway’s overall rail network as ‘inadequate’, adding: “For that reason, Dumfries and Galloway Greens are campaigning for the reinstatement of the Dumfries to Stranraer railway, extending the line to include links to Lockerbie and Cairnryan, and upgrading the poor quality Dumfries to Glasgow line so residents of South West Scotland can enjoy the same access to green travel as is enjoyed by the majority of Scotland.”
Meanwhile, the UK Government this week announced an extension to the Avanti West Coast contract for up to nine years from next month.
They are one of the main operators for Lockerbie and over the last year had been subject to a litany of complaints about bad services from passengers and politicians The extension move has been criticised by South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth as ‘rewarding failure’.
He said: “This decision by the UK Government is shocking.
“Passengers from Lockerbie have been suffering terrible service for years thanks to the failed franchise from Avanti and it should have been removed.
“As it is, we will now potentially face years of cancellations and delays from Transpennine and Avanti and it is not good enough.
“Even when they run on time, the number of services from Lockerbie run by Avanti is utterly woeful and we still have more trains pass through the station that don’t stop at Lockerbie, than do stop.
“Lockerbie is absolutely the forgotten station in the eyes of Avanti and this decision shows that is acceptable to the UK Government.
“Passengers travelling from Lockerbie deserve better.”
