PLANES trains and automobiles — Inverclyde comes into contact with pretty much every aspect of travel that you could imagine.

Being right next to the M8, spitting distance from Glasgow and Prestwick airports and even home to a large scale international ferry terminal which brings in freight and tourists alike.

But it is our connections to Glasgow via train that really get to many people. This week’s satisfaction surveys showed that overall satisfaction has gone up in Scotland. Great news, I absolutely welcome it. 

But the results also pointed out that 20 per cent of people still don’t feel safe on trains and nearly 40 per cent of travellers do not feel that they are getting value for money.

I have been contacted by many constituents around the removal of some of the modern class 380 trains on the Greenock line, instead having to put up with the reintroduction of the class 314 carriages — first introduced nearly 40 years ago!

Travellers commonly complain that these carriages leak, are cracking, have very poor heating and are crowded and uncomfortable.

The trains I used to use when I first commuted to Glasgow to work in the 1990s!

Passengers are angry and rightfully so, the old 314 carriages are a blast from the past and have no place on our modern rail network.

ScotRail previously advised that this was for driver training.

Of course I fully appreciate that training does need to take place in a live environment but why does Inverclyde always have to bear the brunt of it though?

We pay the same money to use the service so, surely, we should be afforded the latest carriages that others enjoy? Not just on selected timetables.

I will be writing to the new MD of ScotRail this week to ask for clarification on the situation and also to seek assurances that not only will the new class trains be brought back within the existing promised deadline, but to ask if they might consider doing it early. It’s worth a try.

Thereafter I have a face-to-face meeting with senior management at ScotRail in the coming weeks.

If you have any concerns over our local rail network please do not hesitate to get in touch with me so I can take your queries directly to the train operator and if necessary the Scottish Government.

Inverclyde is connected to world by ferries, road and rail. It is vital that if we want to remain one of Scotland’s top growing commuter areas that our infrastructure links are geared to cope with the ever-growing demand.

I will be writing shortly in the Tele about the Kilcreggan and Gourock to Dunoon ferry routes too as these are ongoing issues which I determined to stick up for local people on. So watch this space.

I am thoroughly enjoying my new role in the transport brief but what really matters to people is the ability to get around safely, cheaply, and efficiently on an every day basis.

I have always firmly believed that transport is something that should benefit the lives of people across Scotland, not cause undue stress and inconvenience.

Rest assured I will be fighting all the way for Inverclyde residents when it comes to our connectivity.