Local MP David Mundell’s battle to ‘halt’ more trains at Lockerbie reached the next stage last week when he delivered a 1188 signature petition to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
The petition calls for better rail links to improve rail services at Lockerbie Station and to get more trains stopping at the station, particularly early morning trains to Edinburgh and late trains from Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Mr Mundell presented the petition to Scottish Government Transport Minister Keith Brown.
The MP has long been campaigning for improved rail services for the people of Dumfriesshire and last year met with Scotland's Transport Minister Keith Brown and pressed him for support in discussions with Transpennine. He also asked Mr Brown to consider including in the Scotrail franchise an early morning Carlisle to Edinburgh service which could stop at Lockerbie if Transpennine would not do so.
An early morning service to Edinburgh and late evening services from both Glasgow and Edinburgh would mean local people could enjoy entertainment opportunities in both cities, said Mr Mundell.
Keith Brown asked the local MP for evidence that people would use these extra services, and Mr Mundell believes this petition demonstrates just that.
The campaign spearheaded by the Dumfriesshire MP has already had success in bringing improved rail services to Lockerbie.
From May next year the number of trains stopping in the town will double and, for the first time, locals will be able to commute to Edinburgh and Glasgow, arriving before 9am.
There has been a 70% increase in passengers at Lockerbie over the last seven years and MP David Mundell has been fighting hard to get better services, something he is confident will mean even more people use the services.
He said: “Next year’s new services will mean the number of trains stopping at Lockerbie have doubled in recent years. It also means that, for the first time, local people can get to Glasgow or Edinburgh before 9am, which is great for those who work in the cities, or who want to seek employment there. But it also means people with hospital appointments or those who simply want to access the leisure or shopping facilities can do so far more easily.
“This is a really big step forward for rail services in this part of the world, and the fact that it is starting from May 2014 is really good news. But we still need other service improvements, such as late night trains, and that is what I hope this petition will bring. Keith Brown asked for evidence that local people would use the service and I think the strength of support this petition has received proves just that,” added Mr Mundell.
Mr Mundell said: "I am determined to get the balanced timetable of services that Lockerbie needs, as well as making sure there are enough seats on the trains we currently have.
“I am lobbying again all the interested parties in the rail industry to make the case for more trains stopping at Lockerbie, and in particular late evening services from both Glasgow and Edinburgh so local people can enjoy entertainment opportunities in both cities."
The MP went on: “I am also concerned that so many people have to stand between Lockerbie and Edinburgh. This is not acceptable, and in my view is partly down to TransPennine encouraging more passengers with special deal tickets onto services that are already busy, rather than onto less busy ones.”