THE new ScotRail timetable for Inverclyde came into place on Sunday June 2.

ScotRail is now a Scottish Government controlled railway operator, having previously been ran by a private company.

You would think that becoming a public service once again, would bring benefit to local people, but that does not appear to be the case.

Over recent weeks I've discussed the timetable changes with friends, family, and colleagues.

Not everyone is happy with the changes being made by ScotRail.

Many of the changes are flawed. Sadly, they have been fully supported by the local SNP MSP, Stuart McMillan.

Here are some examples of what I've heard. A local school leaver, living in Greenock near Cartsdyke station, will no longer be able to get to work at Coast restaurant in Langbank.

No Greenock/Gourock trains will call at Langbank station during the day as all services become 'fast' services during daytime hours.

For the same reason, families living near Woodhall station in Port Glasgow can no longer travel to Gourock pool for a day out. How could any politician deem this an improvement?

For those in Wemyss Bay and Inverkip, Mr McMillan's campaign for 'improved' rail services has caused all sorts of problems. On the surface, the increase to two trains per hour during the day seems positive but there is more to the story.

The daytime trains on the Wemyss Bay line will all be 'slow' all-stops services. Meaning that the trains now take much longer to get to Glasgow. This is not good for commuters. A longer commute really has a negative impact on quality of life.

When speaking with relatives who live in Inverkip, they pointed out that one of the improvements local people wanted to see has not even been implemented by ScotRail.

The last train on a Sunday from Glasgow will continue to be at 8.50pm. This is far too early. Several local people responded to the ScotRail consultation asking for a last train of 9.50pm. Again, it seems like ScotRail has not listened.

Sometimes political meddling results in poor decision making and that seems to be the case here with Mr McMillan.

Before the pandemic there were four trains per hour on the Gourock line. This has been cut to two trains. For an SNP politician to say in the Tele recently that this is an improvement is a disgrace.

I have contacted ScotRail about a number of anomalies with the new timetables and they have responded to say that they re-look at timetabling as a matter of course. They really need to do this sooner rather than later!

Craig Wilson

Greenock