A campaign spearheaded by Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell has 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.
The rail breakthrough was announced after a meeting on Friday (Feb 1) between the MP and the Managing Director of First TransPennine Express, Nick Donovan.
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.
Hundreds have already signed a petition he launched last month, and which called for better services.
After Friday’s meeting Mr Mundell said: “These 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,” added Mr Mundell, who is now turning his attention to other potential rail service improvements, such as late night trains.
The rail company says the strong local campaign mounted by the MP had influenced its decision and the extra trains at Lockerbie are part of a wider investment £60 million investment which will result in greater capacity for a big growing market.
The improvements announced will mean –
• 26 services per weekday will stop at Lockerbie from May next year, compared to 13 in 2006
• 22 services each Saturday
• 15 services each Sunday
• For the first time trains will arrive before 9am in Edinburgh and Glasgow from Lockerbie, with approximate arrival times of 8.15am