A NEW train timetable which aims to deliver faster journeys along the Gourock-Glasgow line and boost the number of services from Wemyss Bay has been unveiled and put out to consultation.

ScotRail is asking the public to give their views on new proposals for services in Inverclyde under a six-week consultation which launched this afternoon.

The move comes months after a number of limited stop, off-peak 'fast' train services were removed from local lines as an interim measure while driver shortages were addressed. 

The nationalised train operator is proposing to introduce a new Monday to Saturday timetable from June 2024 which it says will offer two faster trains each hour between Gourock and Glasgow Central plus two trains each hour between Wemyss Bay and Glasgow.

READ MORE: ScotRail under-fire over prolonged cuts to Inverclyde runs

Under the new timetable there would be two Glasgow to Gourock trains per hour calling at Paisley Gilmour Street, Bishopton, Port Glasgow, Bogston, and then all stations to Gourock until after the evening peak.

Before the evening peak, trains between Gourock and Glasgow will no longer call at Cardonald, Hillington East, Hillington West, Paisley St James, Langbank and Woodhall.

The last of these limited stop trains will depart from Gourock at 7.26pm and Glasgow at 6.35pm from Monday to Saturday.

After this point there will be two services per hour calling at all stations.

ScotRail says it would not have been possible to run two trains per hour without the changes to station calling patterns.  

The six stations omitted from the Gourock to Glasgow line before the evening peak will now be covered by the Wemyss Bay to Glasgow service during the day, which will have more frequent services but longer journey times.

The line will have two trains per hour from Glasgow to Wemyss Bay until 7pm calling at all stations and taking approximately 59 minutes.

After 7pm the service will reduce to one train an hour, which will call at Paisley Gilmour Street, Bishopton, Port Glasgow, Whinhill, Drumfrochar, Branchton, and Inverkip.

Additional weekday services will operate at peak times between Gourock and Glasgow.

An improved Sunday service between Gourock and Glasgow is also set to be introduced in December this year.

Scott Prentice, ScotRail head of business development, said: “We believe these changes will provide customers across the region with a better rail service and will encourage more people to use public transport and travel sustainably.

"We’re keen to hear what the communities we serve think about our plans.

"Every response we get will help us better understand what our customers need from their railway. 

“These proposals are not the end point, we see them as an important step forward on our journey to deliver the best service we can.

"The timetable will continue to change in response to how current and future customers use the railway.” 

Councillor Martin McCluskey, who has campaigned for better rail services locally, said: “This is welcome news from ScotRail and I’d encourage everyone who is interested to respond to the consultation.

“These proposals would increase the number of trains serving Inverclyde by a quarter and would see over 130 trains a day serving our area.

“I’m pleased that ScotRail listened to the nearly 2,000 people who signed my petition against the fast trains being removed and that they will now make nearly all trains on the Gourock line fast trains, cutting journey times to 41 minutes. 

“The near doubling of trains on the Wemyss Bay line is also welcome and responds to the concerns raised by people for a number of years."

Feedback on the proposed timetable can be submitted at https://www.scotrail.co.uk/ayrshire-and-inverclyde-timetable-consultation until November 20.