McInnes wins train overcrowding concessions

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 5th Aug 2008

Aberdeenshire MSP Alison McInnes today welcomed First ScotRail's pledge to ease pressure on trains running from Aberdeen to Inverness.

Mrs McInnes raised the issue of overcrowding on trains passing through Dyce, Inverurie, Insch and Huntly stations after a local resident was denied entry to a busy train.

First ScotRail conceded that this should not have happened, and stated in a letter to Mrs McInnes that services will be "strengthened" by December 2008, in addition to long-term plans to increase the number of trains on the route.

Mrs McInnes expressed concern at the vagueness of First ScotRail's response and in her reply to First ScotRail wrote: "The situation is quite unsustainable and I would press the urgency of this matter."

Commenting, she said: "I am pleased that First ScotRail have recognised the problem of overcrowding on this route, and that passengers can expect improvements by the end of this year.

"It is of the utmost importance that steps are taken in the short-term towards mitigating this problem, and the December 2008 deadline for doing so is not as ambitious as perhaps it could be, so I have written again to press the urgency of this.

"However, everyone is agreed on the need for more trains on this route and that is what passengers in Aberdeenshire can now look forward to."