Today, Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan can confirm that ScotRail will offer a free trip anywhere in Scotland, per month, for season ticket holders on Inverclyde routes as compensation for the old Class 314 trains currently running on the lines.
Mr McMillan met with the Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf MSP, to discuss the temporary deployment of the Class 314 trains on the Inverclyde routes. At the meeting, he urged Mr Yousaf and ScotRail to consider reimbursing rail users for having to endure these trains.
As a result of this meeting, season ticket holders – including paper season ticket holders and all ticket validities as well as weekly tickets – will be granted a free trip to any location in Scotland once a month. This will be fulfilled via ScotRail’s Smartcard product.
Commentating, Mr McMillan said:
“I’m pleased that ScotRail have committed to develop and implement this offer which permits season ticket holders in Inverclyde to a free trip anywhere in Scotland for every month the 314 trains remain on our line.
“While this solution is not the one I’d hoped for, enabling Inverclyde season ticket holders to travel anywhere in Scotland free of charge once a month could prove to be more valuable in monetary terms than a discount.
“I called for the old trains to be completely removed from our line, but unfortunately this is currently not possible due to the delay in the delivery of new trains ordered by ScotRail. The First Minister has now become directly involved in making representations to Hitachi chiefs in Japan, Hitachi being the company building and supplying the trains.
“I hope those who regularly use the trains in Inverclyde will make use of this offer and take the opportunity to visit parts of Scotland they may have never seen before. As we approach the summer holidays, I encourage all those who are eligible to take a trip and get their money’s worth.
“ScotRail have promised to provide a start date for this scheme shortly, and I will inform the people of Inverclyde of this date as soon as I have heard. Again, I very much share my constituents concerns and frustrations that we have been lumbered with these decades old trains.
“I have been campaigning and making representations to the relevant parties on a regular basis. While I am happy that there has been movement, I will continue to put pressure where it is needed to get a speedy resolution for all passengers using these trains.”
Stuart McMillan MSP 