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| ScotRail passengers 'fainted on overcrowded trains' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two people fainted and a pregnant woman fell ill on overcrowded Borders Railway services, the Scottish Parliament has been told. | Two people fainted and a pregnant woman fell ill on overcrowded Borders Railway services, the Scottish Parliament has been told. |
| MSP Christine Grahame raised the issue at First Minister's Questions. | MSP Christine Grahame raised the issue at First Minister's Questions. |
| She said it gave her "no pleasure" to raise failures "yet again" on the Edinburgh to Tweedbank line. | She said it gave her "no pleasure" to raise failures "yet again" on the Edinburgh to Tweedbank line. |
| First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said ScotRail remained in the "last chance saloon" and must meet the commitments in its performance remedial agreement. | First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said ScotRail remained in the "last chance saloon" and must meet the commitments in its performance remedial agreement. |
| Ms Grahame - who represents Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale - told MSPs: "Just today there were two peak time cancellations and as a result of overcrowding on later trains two people fainted - one even requiring medical assistance. | Ms Grahame - who represents Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale - told MSPs: "Just today there were two peak time cancellations and as a result of overcrowding on later trains two people fainted - one even requiring medical assistance. |
| "There was also a pregnant woman made ill." | "There was also a pregnant woman made ill." |
| Train failure | Train failure |
| ScotRail confirmed on Twitter that a customer had been seen by emergency services. | ScotRail confirmed on Twitter that a customer had been seen by emergency services. |
| Ms Grahame said ScotRail Alliance boss Alex Hynes should get out and about on Borders trains to hear what her constituents thought of services. | Ms Grahame said ScotRail Alliance boss Alex Hynes should get out and about on Borders trains to hear what her constituents thought of services. |
| Ms Sturgeon responded: "I completely agree that this level of discomfort and inconvenience for passengers as a result of overcrowding in no way reflects the service level for which this government and indeed Scottish tax payers, of course, are paying. | Ms Sturgeon responded: "I completely agree that this level of discomfort and inconvenience for passengers as a result of overcrowding in no way reflects the service level for which this government and indeed Scottish tax payers, of course, are paying. |
| "I have been informed that the cancellations today are a consequence of a train that failed early this morning. | "I have been informed that the cancellations today are a consequence of a train that failed early this morning. |
| "I will certainly reinforce to Mr Hynes and his colleagues the critical nature of providing a service that passengers can rely on and feel safe and comfortable to use." | "I will certainly reinforce to Mr Hynes and his colleagues the critical nature of providing a service that passengers can rely on and feel safe and comfortable to use." |
| 'Absolute requirement' | 'Absolute requirement' |
| She said improvements across the country had been "patchy" and passengers in the east of Scotland were still being "let down by ScotRail". | She said improvements across the country had been "patchy" and passengers in the east of Scotland were still being "let down by ScotRail". |
| Ms Sturgeon added that Transport Minister Michael Matheson had met with senior officials from Abellio, the Dutch firm behind the ScotRail franchise, to reinforce the "absolute requirement for improvement". | Ms Sturgeon added that Transport Minister Michael Matheson had met with senior officials from Abellio, the Dutch firm behind the ScotRail franchise, to reinforce the "absolute requirement for improvement". |
| "I said a couple of weeks ago in this chamber that ScotRail is in the last chance saloon and I repeat that today," she said. | "I said a couple of weeks ago in this chamber that ScotRail is in the last chance saloon and I repeat that today," she said. |
| "They must meet the commitments contained in the performance remedial agreement that they have now signed up to." | "They must meet the commitments contained in the performance remedial agreement that they have now signed up to." |
| 'Considerable improvement' | 'Considerable improvement' |
| ScotRail said there had been two cancellations on the line and another service with fewer carriages than normal. | ScotRail said there had been two cancellations on the line and another service with fewer carriages than normal. |
| However, it said that overall the last week had seen a "considerable improvement" for both punctuality and number of seats. | However, it said that overall the last week had seen a "considerable improvement" for both punctuality and number of seats. |
| It added that it regularly engaged with stakeholders and Mr Hynes often travelled on the route and had attended a meeting in Galashiels last week. | It added that it regularly engaged with stakeholders and Mr Hynes often travelled on the route and had attended a meeting in Galashiels last week. |
| A spokesman said: "We know that one of the biggest concerns for our customers is busy trains and we are really sorry to our customers who experienced overcrowding on the Borders Railway today. | A spokesman said: "We know that one of the biggest concerns for our customers is busy trains and we are really sorry to our customers who experienced overcrowding on the Borders Railway today. |
| "It has been a challenging time for Scotland's railway, and everyone at the ScotRail Alliance is working flat-out to provide customers with the service they expect and deserve." | "It has been a challenging time for Scotland's railway, and everyone at the ScotRail Alliance is working flat-out to provide customers with the service they expect and deserve." |