SCOTRAIL has confirmed it will launch a half-hourly Sunday train service between Gourock and Glasgow in time for the festive period.

A new timetable will come into force on the Gourock-Glasgow Central route, which currently runs on an hourly basis, on December 10.

The lack of regular trains on Sundays has been a bugbear for local passengers for some time.

The operator now says it recognises the ‘demand for weekend travel’ and aims to make Sundays ‘more accessible and convenient for customers’.

The change is one of a number being brought in across the network on December 10.

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David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “Our December timetable change represents another step in our ongoing commitment to deliver the best service we can, and encourage more people to choose rail travel instead of using the car, particularly during our off-peak all day fares trial. 

“From the introduction of electric trains to increased frequency on key routes and enhanced service reliability, we are dedicated to making Scotland’s Railway more accessible and efficient. 

“There is a lot of ongoing investment in our network with decarbonisation continuing, and improvements across the network. This new timetable is an important part of that.” 

Gourock councillor Martin McCluskey, one of the people who have been pushing for increased services on the local line, welcomed the addition of extra trains on Sundays.

Mr McCluskey said: "I’ve been campaigning on better public transport in Inverclyde for some time. I'm really pleased that ScotRail have listened to representations from people across the area and doubled the Sunday service on the Gourock line from 10 December."

Meanwhile the consultation continues on the planned new full timetable for both local lines which ScotRail wants to implement from next June.

It involves a series of changes including an extra hourly service on the Wemyss Bay line and two 'fast trains' each hour between Gourock and Glasgow.

For full details of the consultation and how to make a submission to it see https://shorturl.at/dwNVX