In the first of a three-part Scottish Special, RAIL’s latest mystery shopper survey covers Ayrshire and Galloway - including trains on the sadly much-reduced service to Stranraer.

In this article:

  • ScotRail provides friendly customer service, frequent ticket checks, and clean trains, creating an overall positive passenger experience.
  • Scenic routes like Stranraer are underutilised due to infrequent services, though there are signs of improvement.
  • The Spirit of Scotland Travelpass offers good value but could benefit from easier online purchasing and better promotion.

Glasgow Central is Scotland’s busiest station. As well as commuter and semi-fast trains, Sleeper and inter-city trains also use the terminus. 385022 has just arrived with the 0852 from Lanark-Glasgow Central, while 156495 has arrived from Kilmarnock.

For our latest mystery shopper survey of rail travel, the plan is a day trip around Ayrshire and Galloway taking in the port towns of Stranraer, Largs and Ardrossan Harbour.

To exploit travel economies of scale, RAIL buys a four-in-eight-day Rail Rover. This is now known as the ‘Spirit of Scotland Travelpass’, although older users may remember it as the ‘Freedom of Scotland’ - arguably a better name.

The plan is to book the ticket online the night before… however, click, click, click and then…. ‘403 Forbidden’. Not a great start.

Never mind, as fortunately our starting point is Lanark - a staffed station.

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Author: RAIL magazine
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