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Scotland's ‘armchair’ transport secretary must reject cuts to rail, says Aslef

THE SNP government must “come clean” on whether it supports cuts to ticket office opening hours at train stations across Scotland, train drivers’ union Aslef said today.

In a stinging letter to Scottish transport secretary Graham Dey, the union urged the MSP for Angus South to “stop being an armchair” minister and intervene to protect ScotRail. 

Last week, the Abellio-run company, already being fully funded by the Scottish government ahead of its return to public control in April, announced plans to reduce ticket office opening hours at 120 of its 140 stations.

Clydebank, Cartsdyke in Greenock and Woodhill will also lose their kiosks entirely, with a company spokesperson arguing that maintaining infrequently used services is “not the best use of people.”

But rail unions pledged to fight the move, saying that it will create a “muggers’ paradise” across the network and discourage train use as the country aims to slash carbon emissions.

Today, Aslef Scottish organiser Kevin Lindsay said: “We are very worried and angry at proposals to close ticket offices across Scotland, right at the time when we should be getting Scotland’s railways back on track.

“Cuts to services and now to ticket offices is not the type of public rail system we want and it’s not good enough for us to have an armchair transport secretary trying to hide from decisions that he is ultimately responsible for.

“It is not good enough for Graham Dey to hide behind others, he has to come clean about whether he supports a cuts agenda or an agenda that protects and rebuilds Scotland’s railways.”

Transport Scotland has been contacted for comment.

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