The “most overcrowded” train journeys in Scotland have been unveiled.
Rail travel is one of the easiest ways to journey across Scotland, with routes all over the mainland. However, as frequent travellers will know, certain routes tend to be busier than others.
New figures released following a Freedom of Information request by the Scottish Liberal Democrats have revealed the 10 most overcrowded routes in Scotland. Coming in at number one are three different services between Tweedbank and Edinburgh Waverley.
According to the data, both the 9.51am and 1.19pm Saturday services from the Scottish Borders village near Galashiels to Edinburgh are 45 per cent over capacity on average. Meanwhile, the same journey in the opposite direction at 7.43pm on Saturday is also regularly 45 per cent over capacity.
The 11.19am Saturday service from Tweedbank to Edinburgh Waverley appears at fourth place on the list of the most overcrowded services. The journey was found to be 44 per cent over capacity on average.
The next most overcrowded train journeys in Scotland are the 8.13am Saturday service from Glasgow Central to Glasgow Central (Cathcart Circle) and the 7.38am Monday-to-Friday service from Balloch to Airdrie. Both were found to regularly be 34 per cent over capacity.
Elsewhere, two services from Leven in Fife to Edinburgh Waverley and two services from Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh Waverley round out the top 10. The 7.15am and 12.17pm services from Leven to Edinburgh and the 11.01am and 12pm services from Glenrothes to Edinburgh were all found to be 26 per cent over capacity.
Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Daniel O’Malley commented: “Passengers are shelling out huge sums of money to travel by train, only to be squeezed under someone’s armpit once they’re on board. Routes in the Borders and Fife are particularly badly affected, with people packed onto services like sardines.
“The SNP government have been responsible for Scotland’s trains for almost three years. In that time, they have clobbered passengers with ticket hikes and done next to nothing to minimise disruption or overcrowding.
“It’s a masterclass in how to make public transport as unattractive as possible.”
ScotRail Service Delivery Director Mark Ilderton said: “We know that one of our customers biggest concerns is busy trains, and we’re sorry to customers for any disruption they’ve experienced. When faults occur and trains require maintenance, it can result in some trains operating with fewer carriages than planned.
“This is the preferred option, rather than cancelling a service completely. We’ve been working hard to get trains back in service as quickly as possible, and deliver the level of service our customers expect.”
Scotland’s 10 most overcrowded train routes
- 09:51 Tweedbank – Edinburgh Waverley, Saturday — 45 per cent overcapacity
- 19:43 Edinburgh Waverley – Tweedbank, Saturday — 45 per cent overcapacity
- 13:19 Tweedbank – Edinburgh Waverley, Saturday — 45 per cent overcapacity
- 11:19 Tweedbank to Edinburgh Waverley, Saturday — 44 per cent overcapacity
- 0813 Glasgow Central – Glasgow Central (Cathcart Circle), Monday to Friday — 34 per cent overcapacity
- 07:38 Balloch – Airdrie, Monday to Friday — 34 per cent overcapacity
- 07:15 Leven – Edinburgh Waverley, Monday to Friday — 26 per cent over capacity
- 12:17 Leven – Edinburgh Waverley, Saturday — 26 per cent overcapacity
- 11:01 Glenrothes with Thornton – Edinburgh Waverley, Saturday — 26 per cent overcapacity
- 12:00 Glenrothes with Thornton – Edinburgh Waverley, Saturday — 26 per cent overcapacity