ScotRail passengers unimpressed by free hot dogs as compensation for delays

RAIL chiefs have been branded silly sausages by disruption-hit rail passengers after they were handed a £5 hot dog by way of compensation for crippling delays.

The treat was offered to commuters left frustrated by behind-schedule and over- budget rail improvement works on a tunnel outside Queen Street Station in Glasgow.

ScotRail chiefs hired street food specialists Fire Dog to dish out the free snacks “to thank passengers for their patience” during the travel chaos.

Earlier this month, it was revealed a major upgrade of the Edinburgh-Glasgow rail line is running seven months late with costs spiralling.

But hard-pressed passengers felt the sausage stunt was too little, too late.

Jimmy MacKay, who travels to and from Edinburgh regularly, said all commuters want is an “efficient, affordable service”.

The 40-year-old, of Strathbungo, Glasgow, said: “Is a free hot dog supposed to make up for the months and months of chaos?

Commuters queue outside Glasgow's Queen Street railway station during electrification work which has closed the upper concourse and platforms — Commuters queue outside Glasgow’s Queen Street railway station during electrification work which has closed the upper concourse and platforms

“ScotRail would be better spending time and money coming up with a coherent strategy to provide a better service than wasting cash on a stunt.

“At the moment commuters are being asked to fork out £372 a month for a shoddy service between Glasgow and Edinburgh, with no idea when things will improve.

“It’s just not good enough.”

The view was echoed by health consultant Allison Phillips, 38, of Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, who commutes between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

“It was a very tasty hot dog,” she said. “But it didn’t really make up for the summer of disruption I’ve faced.”

Transport Minster Humza Yousaf has already said he was “concerned and disappointed” after an assessment concluded electrification of the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow had been hit by delays.

As part of the same upgrade, vast swathes of Glasgow’s bustling Queen Street Station have been closed since March.

On average, every service from and to Queen Street is taking 25 minutes longer than usual.

The report, which was carried out by the Office of Rail and Road, said electrification of the route had been due for completion by December this year.

However that target is now “unlikely” to be met.

It is understood that the line will not run electric services until July 2017 – seven months later than planned.

Transport Scotland officials have now been ordered to carry out a review of the governance of major rail projects.

Despite the criticism, ScotRail defended its hot dog giveaway.

A spokeswoman said: “This was something we could do for our customers – with a nod to Independence Day in USA – to thank them for their patience during the Queen St tunnel works.”

She said it generated “extremely positive feedback”.

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