Moray MSP, Richard Lochhead, has insisted that Scotrail improvements tackle the problem of the region’s rail users being “squeezed like sardines into a tin” on busy trains.
Mr Lochhead has long campaigned for a better service on the line between Inverness and Aberdeen, and hosted a public debate with Abellio ScotRail managing director, Phil Verster, in Elgin earlier this year.
Rail bosses have now committed to increasing capacity by 75% on trains between Inverness and Aberdeen by 2019, and by 43% between Aberdeen and Inverness and the central belt.
Yesterday, Mr Lochhead argued the new measures were “desperately needed”.
He added: “Passengers in Moray, who rely on the Aberdeen to Inverness line, have expressed growing frustration over local services in recent years, and the promised improvements can’t happen soon enough.
“The pledge to increase capacity on the Aberdeen to Inverness line by 75% by 2019 and also to increase capacity between Aberdeen and Inverness and the central belt is desperately needed.
“More people want to use the train these days, so it’s essential the infrastructure is there to meet growing demand.
“But passengers often tell me that, on some services, they are squeezed like sardines into a tin – and sometimes north trains are delayed or even cancelled.”
The SNP politician insisted Scottish Government pressure had helped bring about the planned changes.
He added: “These plans could be transformational for Moray – we need to see better punctuality, a higher quality of trains and that extra capacity as quickly as possible.”