SCOTRAIL has introduced a temporary timetable, resulting in the cancellation of hundreds of rail services throughout the country.

This includes six ScotRail services travelling between North Berwick and Edinburgh, as well as all six ScotRail services between Edinburgh and Dunbar.

Around the country, the cuts are predominantly to early-morning and late-evening services, leaving commuters stranded at a time where the Scottish Government aim to reach net-zero emissions by 2045.

On Sunday, 320 trains were cancelled at short notice after a number of drivers declined to make themselves available following a ballot for industrial action over pay by union ASLEF.

I have written to Scotland’s Transport Minister and the chief executive of ScotRail to call for the immediate return to regular service as soon as possible, and for the expansion of rail services.

And I am very concerned about these cuts and have raised and will continue to raise these issues with the SNP Ministers responsible in the Scottish Parliament.

In the meantime, I would encourage commuters to check before they travel, and for those living in North Berwick and Longniddry to consider using the incoming X5 bus service, which starts operating hourly from Monday from 6.37am to 6.23pm on weekdays and 7.45am to 6.18pm on Saturdays.

That being said, it is very welcome news that the opening of Reston station in the Scottish Borders will bring an additional 12 TransPennine Express and LNER services between Edinburgh and Dunbar. I would like to thank my Conservative colleague John Lamont MP for all the work he has done to get Reston station on track.

This will undoubtedly help ease the burden on commuters, and I will be pressing SNP-run ScotRail to introduce more local services as soon as possible.