Cut to Scottish train services 'like another curfew' for hospitality

The reduction of evening train services on key lines across Scotland has been described as “like another curfew” impacting both hospitality trade and staff safety.

The temporary timetable introduced by ScotRail will see 700 fewer services running each day, with the last trains on many rotes departing before 8pm.

The reduction has been blamed on a shortage of drivers due to Covid training delays as well as the ongoing dispute with unions Aslef and the RMT, which have instructed members not to work overtime.

Dean Banks, chef patron of Haar in St Andrews and Dean Banks at the Pompadour in Edinburgh, told The Caterer: “It’s like another curfew. It’s a double ended sword from the staff side and the customer side.

"It’s frustrating as we’ve gone through this two-year period of Covid, we’re trying to get back on our feet, we’re starting to get busier and it’s like another blow. At the same time all the payments have gone up. We’re paying all this money in taxes and then we’re shot in the foot.”

Banks believes the changes could see bookings cancelled, with people unable to use train services to return home or to their accommodation after their meal. Staff working in his restaurants live all over Scotland and use the trains to travel home at the end of their shifts.

He added: “What are they going to do? A 45-minute train journey can be a two-hour bus journey and if you’re getting finished at 11pm and are usually home for midnight, you’re now going to get home at 1am or 1:30am.”

Under the new timetable the last train from Inverness to Tain is at 5:12pm, the final service from Glasgow to Aberdeen departs at 6:41pm and those wishing to travel between Edinburgh and North Berwick will need to have boarded by 7:40pm.

UKHospitality Scotland executive director Leon Thompson said: “The reduced timetable operated by ScotRail is creating transport problems for workers across hospitality. The early finish on evening services is particularly challenging, with reports of workers having to change their shifts in order to catch ludicrously early last trains.

“UKHospitality Scotland continues to urge ScotRail and Aslef to reach an agreement on pay quickly. The current situation is untenable for businesses and the hospitality workforce. Businesses already have enough to contend with and a substantially reduced national rail service is adding additional financial pressure through lost customers and therefore revenue; whilst workers face the anxiety of transport disruption.”

ScotRail has operated by a government-owned company since April, after previous operator Abellio had its franchise ended early.

The train service said: “We want to resolve this dispute with the trade unions and move forward together to provide the safest, greenest, and most reliable railway we can for Scotland.”