TRAIN services in Inverclyde will never return to pre-pandemic levels under controversial new proposals from rail bosses.

It has emerged that Scotrail wants to go ahead with a revised timetable that will permanently slash the number of journeys between the district and the city.

Under the proposed new timetable, the number of daily journeys between Monday and Friday from Glasgow to Gourock will have dropped by 27 per cent compared to the last equivalent summer timetable published prior to the pandemic.

For the reverse journey, there is a 19 per cent decrease, while Saturday services from Glasgow to Gourock will drop by 24 per cent.

Labour MSP Katy Clark is challenging current rail operator Abellio over the plans.

She said: “Not only will these cuts be damaging for people in Inverclyde who rely on these essential services, but it completely undermines the Scottish Government’s stated ambition to encourage people to drive less and use public transport more.

“It is also incomprehensible that this consultation is being proposed by an operator that will not even be managing services by the time these cuts come into place.

“It is not too late for the Scottish Government to intervene.

"They urgently need to block these cuts, protect jobs and engage meaningfully with passengers and trade unions over the future of the railways.”

The Scottish Government plans to take rail services under public ownership when the Abellio franchise runs out in March next year.

Abellio has drafted the proposals despite the fact it will not be operating the franchise by then, with Scotrail coming into public ownership from April.

The Scottish Government already has powers to block any cuts to services, as it is managing rail services under emergency powers introduced at the start of the pandemic.

A recent RMT union survey highlighted concerns from railway workers, who believe the changes will affect passengers negatively and deter people from using the rail network.

They fear the diminished timetable will be used to justify job cuts in the future.

Scotrail today defended the reduced rail service.

A spokesman said: “The pandemic has changed how people travel across all of Scotland and our services need to reflect that.

"That’s why we are now in the process of designing new timetables to accommodate future levels of passenger demand.

"We are proposing a new, better performing timetable with focus on improved punctuality and reliability, which we know is a priority for our customers.

“Rail is already the most sustainable mode of public transport, contributing only one per cent of Scotland’s overall transport carbon emissions, so it’s important that everyone – management, staff, trade unions, suppliers, and government – works together to continue to modernise the railway so that it is fit for the future.”