Faults force ScotRail to pull the plug on electric car charging points at stations

SCOTRAIL has been forced to shut all of its charging points for electric cars after it emerged they were faulty and one had been wired to the wrong electricity supply.

The rail operator has 50 charging points in its car parks across the country but they have been put out of action for up to six weeks to allow for emergency repairs.

At Pitlochry in Perthshire, the charging point for the ScotRail car park had been wired to a neighbouring supply belonging to Network Rail – meaning the track operator was picking up the bill.

ScotRail said it had taken its electric vehicle charge points out of service while maintenance works are carried out following faults identified through inspections.

Scottish Labour’s environment spokeswoman Claudia Beamish MSP said: “It is welcome that ScotRail is looking to encourage the use of electric vehicles, but concerning to see so many charge points are offline. That will do nothing to encourage people to make the transition to a more environmentally-friendly commute. These reports should be urgently investigated.”

ScotRail converted a total of 100 parking spaces, powered by 50 chargers that can supply two cars at a time, in 50 of the train operator’s 359 stations to electric charging points last year.

The firm said at the time the move was intended to “reduce our customers’ carbon footprint from door-to-door”.

But now electric car drivers have to make alternative arrangements for the next six weeks.

There are estimated to be in excess of 70,000 pure electric vehicles on UK roads but there remains a low number of charging parking spaces.

A ScotRail Alliance spokesman said: “We apologise to customers who are currently unable to charge their electric cars while maintenance work is carried out.

“We are working with our contractor to have our charge points back in service as quickly as possible.”