Passengers on Scotland’s railway network have had another chaotic year.
And from today, . It will add more than £100 to an annual season ticket between the country’s two biggest cities.
While prices go up, passengers are too often left wondering where the money is actually going.
ScotRail operator Abellio has not endeared itself to the travelling public. Services are frequently overcrowded and stations have been skipped, leaving people high and dry.
A shortage of drivers for “training purposes” led to cancellations.
Planning around busy events, particularly in Edinburgh, led to chaos on platforms.
For Abellio, the franchise is ending earlier than it hoped, in 2022.
So is this year going to bring much in the way of change?
The Scottish Government is under pressure to bring the service into public hands but on its own that’s no guarantee of improvement.
More of us use the railways, and the travelling public and visitors demand a reliable, affordable service.
The year ahead must come with improvements, and evidence the tracks are being laid for a network we can all rely on.
Lynsey’s a fighter
Lynsey Ritchie is a remarkable woman.
received a devastating breast cancer diagnosis despite being rated a low-risk of catching the disease.
She chose to face her condition on the front foot and with more than a dash of humour.
Holding a “thanks for the mammaries” party was a touch of comic genius in the face of a potentially bleak outcome.
And in a searingly honest and clear-sighted blog, she helped others in a similar situation. Through it all her first thought was for her four sons. Those boys should know they have a great mum who loves them very much.
Lynsey’s husband Neil is a soldier but there is clearly more than one battler in the Ritchie household.
A little star
Freya Lee was so moved by the plight of the homeless on a trip to Edinburgh that she decided to do something about it.
The 10-year-old made it her mission to help vulnerable people in her home town of Kilmarnock through a variety of
fundraising and charitable initiatives. No wonder parents Kristine and Barry are so proud of such an inspirational young girl.
Let Freya’s kindness be an example to us all.
