Submission Documents: Rail Services We need ambition for our railway if we are to restart our economy and meet our net zero goals. However, the SNP-Green Government's plans to cut services and close ticket offices, and their failure to rule out compulsory redundancies, risks dashing the potential of our publicly owned rail service before it's even begun. With Abellio Scotrail, perhaps conveniently just a few weeks before the Scottish Government take control of our railways, cutting approximately 250 rail services a day across Scotland and cutting staffing hours at 117 stations across Scotland including a 30% cut at Falkirk Grahamston and Polmont. Staffing levels are also set to be cut at Falkirk High and Linlithgow (which serves Bo'ness). Encouraging the public to use public transport is vital to help Scotland meet our climate goals. But the SNP's plans to cut services will be hugely detrimental in encouraging people out of cars and back onto trains as we emerge from the pandemic. These cuts will have a detrimental effect on those with a disability who may need extra assistance getting on/off trains, assistance in or around railway stations and assistance with ticket machines. These could all lead to potential isolation for disabled members of our community and show the inequalities that exist within society. Lone travellers, especially females and elderly, may feel vulnerable due to being the only person around a station therefore think twice about using our railways which again may lead to isolation Council asks that the Leader of Falkirk Council write to the First Minister and the Transport Minister calling on them to think again and stop cuts to services and staffing levels at our railway stations both locally and nationally which will help us meet our climate goals and also provide a safer more inclusive form of transport for our residents. Proposed by Councillor Aitchison Help Icon

This is the list of documents available for the submission Rail Services We need ambition for our railway if we are to restart our economy and meet our net zero goals. However, the SNP-Green Government's plans to cut services and close ticket offices, and their failure to rule out compulsory redundancies, risks dashing the potential of our publicly owned rail service before it's even begun. With Abellio Scotrail, perhaps conveniently just a few weeks before the Scottish Government take control of our railways, cutting approximately 250 rail services a day across Scotland and cutting staffing hours at 117 stations across Scotland including a 30% cut at Falkirk Grahamston and Polmont. Staffing levels are also set to be cut at Falkirk High and Linlithgow (which serves Bo'ness). Encouraging the public to use public transport is vital to help Scotland meet our climate goals. But the SNP's plans to cut services will be hugely detrimental in encouraging people out of cars and back onto trains as we emerge from the pandemic. These cuts will have a detrimental effect on those with a disability who may need extra assistance getting on/off trains, assistance in or around railway stations and assistance with ticket machines. These could all lead to potential isolation for disabled members of our community and show the inequalities that exist within society. Lone travellers, especially females and elderly, may feel vulnerable due to being the only person around a station therefore think twice about using our railways which again may lead to isolation Council asks that the Leader of Falkirk Council write to the First Minister and the Transport Minister calling on them to think again and stop cuts to services and staffing levels at our railway stations both locally and nationally which will help us meet our climate goals and also provide a safer more inclusive form of transport for our residents. Proposed by Councillor Aitchison.

Click on the links to view the individual documents in PDF format.

Name Type of Document Access View Document
Item Minute - 30 March 2022 Minute Public Open Document in PDF Format
(152 KB)

 

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