Date: 20/11/2011

WHEN it comes to the demands of railway passengers, the wish list seems simple enough: reliable, punctual and frequent trains offering good value for money and the ability to secure a seat. Yet plans unveiled last week for a major overhaul of Scotland’s railways set out the possibility of fares soaring ahead of inflation, and of passengers being forced to stand. The proposals in the Rail 2014 consultation document by Transport Scotland, an agency of the Scottish Government, triggered an outcry. The Labour Party said that a petition against the proposals had already attracted around 4000 signatures. Many of those are from the north of Scotland, where passengers could face the loss of overnight sleeper services to London, as well as having to change at Edinburgh for cross-border journeys.

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