Almost 1,300 less trains are running between Inverurie and Aberdeen, prompting calls for ScotRail to reverse its decision to axe journeys to and from the town.
The “stark” statistics from ScotRail come exactly a year after the nationalised firm slashed services in Inverurie for the sake of boosting journeys between Aberdeen and Glasgow.
The figures, obtained by Ms Cross through Freedom of Information, show for the first six months of this year, there were 3,965 trains running between Inverurie and Aberdeen in both directions. This is a drop of almost 1,300 in the same period last year when there were 5,263 services running.
Passenger numbers have also fallen by almost 2,000 over the summer between May and September. This year, 80,588 passengers used trains between Inverurie and Aberdeen compared to 82,181 last year.
Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, Harriet Cross, said: “These stark figures show the true extent of ScotRail’s decision to axe Inverurie’s train services.
“Despite being one of the largest, fastest growing towns in Aberdeenshire, Inverurie residents and businesses have been betrayed by ScotRail and the Scottish Government.
“As more people look away from cars and want to use alternative modes of transport, many rely on the train to get to work, go shopping or go to pubs and restaurants in Inverurie which is why these services should be expanded, not drawn back.
“When businesses are approaching their busiest time of the year this Christmas, Inverurie’s train services shouldn’t be sacrificed to pay for the central belt.
“This is yet another example of the North East being overlooked for modern transport infrastructure in favour of places like Edinburgh and Glasgow.”
