A DUNFERMLINE key worker has hit out after his train was cancelled when ScotRail reduced their services at the beginning of the month.

Banker Andrew Hanlin said he is now faced with an extra 20-minute wait at South Gyle station after his 4pm finish because the 4.28pm train has stopped running.

He said that the ScotRail website states that the changes won't affect peak-time service, and simply says that the number of trains will be reduced from two trains to one per hour between 9am and 4pm.

"This is incorrect," he said. "The Edinburgh to Fife train leaving Edinburgh at 16.19 and South Gyle at 16.28 has been removed and this is a peak-time service. I have had this confirmed from ScotRail.

"I understand that they have to reduce trains but they should not put misleading information on their website. As a key worker myself, I am disappointed that I will have to stand for another 20 minutes in the cold for the next train to arrive.

"I did email them and got a reply because I wanted to make sure it wasn't just the website that was wrong but they came back and confirmed it had been cancelled."

ScotRail say that the cancelled train was not one of their peak-time services and have stressed that they have asked customers across its social media and media engagement to check journeys before they travel.

David Simpson, ScotRail operations director, said: “Everyone across Scotland’s railway is working incredibly hard to deliver for our customers, and the latest change to our timetable helps us ensure we keep getting people to where they need to be.

“We have constantly adapted our timetable throughout the pandemic to reflect restrictions in place at any given time, allowing those travelling to be able to rely on ScotRail, and these alterations will again ensure that we deliver that critical service.

"We understand certain alterations might mean waiting a little longer for a very limited number of services but these have been kept to a minimum for those currently using our services, as we have matched changes with the current demand.

“Like any business during the pandemic, we need to continue to make sensible financial decisions, and reducing the number of services means a reduction in costs for the taxpayer, while continuing to deliver a safe and reliable rail service.”