ScotRail bosses say Kilwinning station will remain staffed

Local campaigner Jake Neill claims Kilwinning station has had no staff members on duty more than 50 times in the past 12 months.

ScotRail admitted that there have been occasions in the last year when there were fewer employees on duty at the station than there should have been – but insisted Kilwinning has never been completely unstaffed.

In addition to passengers travelling to or from Kilwinning itself, the station is a key interchange point between the Glasgow-Ayr route and the Glasgow-Ardrossan/Largs line.

Jake said: “Over the last few years, along with local politicians, I have been campaigning vigorously for Kilwinning to be staffed at all times.

“However there has been at least 50 times in the last year or so Kilwinning has been left closed.

“For our area’s busiest station, and for a four platform interchange, that is completely unacceptable.

“There is no other station like this across the whole UK which is left unstaffed in the way Kilwinning is.

“Over the last year or so our local MPs and MSPs have contacted ScotRail to ensure Kilwinning was fully staffed.

“While some progress has been made, it has started to go back down the road where the station is regularly closed at 5pm and shifts are also uncovered.

“However, ScotRail is somehow able to find staff for Paisley or Largs, so if it’s fine for them, it’s fine for Kilwinning.

“I accept Largs is a terminus, but with only one one train an hour, it’s completely unjustified to have it staffed at all times when Kilwinning, which has four trains an hour, is not.

“The staff’s actions at Kilwinning have been the difference between life or death, as they have helped on many medical emergencies in the past too.

“Without them, said passengers may not be here today.

“We also have loads of disabled assists, and since they’ve taken the ramps away it’s been vitally important that we’ve had staff to assist our most vulnerable passengers.

“No interchange station should be closed, and I will not rest until Kilwinning station is fully manned at all times of the day.”

According to passenger usage statistics published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), Kilwinning was used as an interchange station more than 62,000 times during the year to the end of March 2022, far more than any other station in Ayrshire.

It also had 257,540 entries and exits during the same year.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail’s head of customer operations, said: “ScotRail makes every effort to ensure Kilwinning station is always fully staffed, however there have been occasions when it hasn’t been possible.

“In the event of staff absence, we exhaust all available options to cover shifts and ensure staffing levels are maintained.”

Scotrail said there had been no instances during the past year when Kilwinning station had to close or been left completely uncovered.

But there were occasions when only one member of staff had been available.

As Kilwinning is an interchange station, ScotRail said, during times of disruption a station team manager would attend Kilwinning to help customers who use the station.

Jake said: “It is very encouraging to hear that ScotRail is doing what they can to keep Kilwinning open and this response gives assurance that it will only be a rare occasion if there isn’t any staff on the station.

“Having staff is vital to ensure passengers are assured and get the help they need when travelling, which is key.

“I welcome ScotRail’s response and thank them for it.”

According to the ORR’s data, the busiest station in Ayrshire in terms of overall passenger usage is Ayr, which had 725,962 entries and exits during the 12 months to March 31 last year – though the number of interchanges at Ayr was 30,337, less than half the number for Kilwinning.