ONLY 51 per cent of TransPennine Express services through Lockerbie station are on time, according to data.
Using data from Real-time Trains and Network Rail’s own databases, a total of 278 services were tracked for a week from Tuesday February 18, with the results showing major problems with the TransPennine Express services to Glasgow, Edinburgh, and points south to Manchester.
A total of 51 per cent (143) of scheduled services departed in the timetabled slot, while 17 per cent (47) were cancelled or didn’t show for a variety of reasons, including services which ran but where Lockerbie was skipped entirely.
Reacting to the ‘appalling’ data, South Scotland MSP Emma Harper said: “I wanted to use the opportunity of the debate on rail to highlight the appalling record of TransPennine Express in serving Lockerbie over a long period of time.
“That simply isn’t acceptable at any level and particularly not on a crucial route for locals travelling north or south, or for visitors hoping to come to our area and spend their cash.
“Lockerbie station doesn’t just serve the town itself, it is an important railhead for people around the south west and the Borders, for travel north and south to access employment, education, leisure or simply visiting loved ones. But if people can’t rely on even the most basic functions of a railway – trains turning up vaguely on time – then what exactly is going on?
“As the owners of TransPennine Express, the UK Government has to accept responsibility for the shambles travellers to and from Lockerbie have to endure virtually every day, and I’ll continue to try and hold them to account for expecting passengers in the South to put up with a substandard service.”
