The number of train journeys taken across Inverclyde this year has fallen by more than half a million compared with pre pandemic levels, transport body figures have revealed. 

Office of Rail and Road, an organisation which protects the interests of rail and road users, has gathered together estimates of the number of journeys made at stations across Inverclyde.

The data shows passengers made 2,090,326 journeys locally between April 2023 and March 2024.

This marks a fall of 558,696 from pre-Covid levels between April 2019 and March 2020 when 2,649,022 journeys were recorded. 

Greenock CentralThe only stations to have recorded an increase in passenger numbers year-on-year comparing 2019/20 with 2023/24 are Wemyss Bay, Branchton, and Woodhall. 

In 2022/23, passengers made a total of 1,723,472 journeys across all stations in Inverclyde - a total of 366,854 journeys less than 2023/24. 

Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan says home-working routines established during the pandemic led to a reduction in people using the train. 

(Image: Newsquest) He highlighted the Scottish Government's peal fare removal pilot which was introduced to try to boost passenger numbers. 

Mr McMillan, of the SNP, added: "I regularly meet with ScotRail so I am well aware that while the number of people using the rail network is increasing, it's still way off pre-pandemic levels.

"This is, in part, why the Scottish Government launched its peak fare removal pilot – but as we know, this didn't help boost passenger numbers as much as ministers had hoped. 

"We can't ignore the fact that home-working became the norm during the pandemic and has since been adopted as a more flexible way of working for many businesses. 

"This means people who used to commute five days a week are typically no longer doing so, with some now permanently working from home.

"Lots more people are therefore using the train for leisure purposes, and I think the recent timetable changes to provide more regular services on the Wemyss Bay line show that ScotRail are adapting to changes in population and changing uses for the train."

READ MORE: ScotRail peak fares to be reintroduced as trial concludes

Mr McMillan added that he is concerned about plans to reduce ticket office opening hours, and pledged to engage with ScotRail to raise the concerns of his constituents. 

He added: "If this does truly mean staff will work the same hours but will be carrying out more hands-on customer service roles within stations, I am content, as I know how people purchase tickets is changing. 

"However, this should not be used an a mechanism for reducing staff hours or reducing staff presence within stations, particularly in the evenings and at weekends."