Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife has written to Abellio UK, who have been awarded the new ScotRail franchise to request a meeting to discuss future rail services and investment in Perthshire.
The current agreement with the First Group terminates at the end of 2014 and Transport Minister Keith Brown confirmed Abellio has been awarded a 7-year minimum contract to start 1 April 2015.
Scottish Conservative sports spokeswoman Liz Smith MSP said:
"Many residents in Perth have told me that they would like to see a late night service that allows train users to take advantage of the nightlife and culture Scotland's big cities offer.
"This change to the franchise operator presents a new opportunity to make some progress on this issue. I am therefore keen to meet the new operator, Abellio, as soon as possible to make the case for additional services and investment for Perthshire."
Liz continued:
“I am also determined to hold SNP Ministers to their pledge to deliver a 35-minute journey time reduction between Inverness and the central belt as well as an hourly service by 2025. I hope that the news ScotRail franchisee will be able to provide a timetable for progress to improve journey times as progress has been limited to date.
“Analysis of journey times between Inverness, Perth and the central belt would suggest that the Scottish Government is going in the wrong direction with journey times talking longer.
“A train journey between Inverness and Glasgow is now taking up to 3 hours 36 minutes – ten minutes longer than in 2000 – with even the fastest services three minutes slower than before. The fastest Inverness to Edinburgh train now takes 3 hours 26 minutes.
“I look forward to meeting with the new ScotRail franchisee and welcome any feedback from constituents on areas of the Perthshire rail services they would like to see improved.”