Calls for later Sunday subways in Glasgow after TRNSMT travel chaos
One woman forked out almost £100 in a taxi to get home to Renfrewshire
Last updated 16th Jul 2024
There are calls for a later subway service in Glasgow following huge taxi queues when TRNSMT wrapped up on Sunday night.
Around 50,000 people attended the festival on the final day - but with ongoing rail strikes and a subway that closes at 6 pm on Sundays - travelling home was difficult.
ScotRail's emergency timetable meant the last train back to Hamilton finished around two hours before Calvin Harris wrapped up his set.
Susan McColl told us she spent a fortune getting back to Renfrewshire after her day at Glasgow Green.
She spent £95 on a taxi home after being unable to secure public transport.
She added: "The train tickets to go into Glasgow were £16.20 each from Houston.
"Train is probably the most reliable route home for me from Glasgow, to even get to Johnstone and make my way back from there.
"Honestly, it is ridiculous because you can't even get a subway on a Sunday after teatime."
'Intention to review'
An SPT spokesperson for Glasgow's Subway said: "We have already stated our intention to review Subway operating hours once the Subway modernisation programme is complete.
"Subway endeavours to support various events in the city throughout the year including extending opening times for major events when it can.
"The early close on Sunday evening remains vital at the moment as it allows for essential maintenance and for more intensive work from the modernisation programme to be complete.”
ScotRail apology
ScotRail's communications director, David Ross, has apologised to passengers for not being able to run full services while a driver pay dispute rumbles on.
He said: "Unfortunately because we've got a reduced timetable at the moment, we weren't able to put on extra services, and particularly late-night services for TRNSMT like we've done in the past.
"We're really sorry to anyone who's been disrupted by that.
"We did our very best, we had lots of teams out on the ground and 40,000 did travel with us on the railway.
"The reduced timetable is going to be with us for the next few weeks.
"We're working hard with our trade union colleagues to try and get an acceptable pay deal, that delivers value for the taxpayer and a well-earned pay rise for our drivers - but also to get our normal timetable back up and running."
'We encourage meaningful dialogue'
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: "As ScotRail have said, this is an evolving timetable that they will continue to keep under review as they seek to deliver reliability and adaptability for passengers across all travel, including events, where practicable.
“While train planning and staff rotas are operational matters for ScotRail, we fully expect any timetable to give the best reliability and availability for passengers and that changes are communicated well in advance to enable effective journey planning.
“ScotRail, as a public body and the employer, has responsibility and the ability to negotiate within the limits of public sector pay metrics.
"However, as rail unions have been made aware, any offer beyond these requires Scottish Government approval at senior level following the appropriate process.
"We would encourage rail unions to continue meaningful dialogue with ScotRail, so that a mutually agreeable outcome can be reached.”
“Although we didn’t own the travel plan for TRNSMT, in the past we’ve worked closely with partners on the likes of the Cycling World Championships, and many other major sporting and music events, to help publicise road closures and longer journey times, and to encourage use of public transport and park and ride facilities, where available and possible.”