Published: Wednesday, 16th July, 2008 12:00
Just the ticket for Alloa’s rail users
By Jamie MacDonald
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Rebecca Martin attempts to be the first person to use the new ticket machine at Alloa Station
Pic by: Jan van der Merwe
GOOD news arrived for commuters from Clackmannanshire frustrated over long ticket queues when they disembark at Stirling with the installation last Wednesday of a ticket machine at Alloa Station.
The bad news for passengers hoping to make a prompt exit from the train is that the ticket machine is not up and running as yet – but it should be operational in the next few days.
Once fully working, it is hoped the machine will put an end to the chaos many train users have had to endure just to pay for the eight minute journey.
The popularity of the new train service, which opened on 19 May, has meant that train users have had to queue at Stirling for up to 20 minutes to pay to exit the platform.
The length of time of the journey has resulted in conductors being unable to sell many tickets to passengers en-route.
After 8000 passengers used the railway in its opening week ScotRail was criticised for not providing adequate ticketing facilities and they have subsequently deployed extra personnel to sell tickets in a bid to stop large queues.
On 29 May ScotRail announced it would install a ticket machine in Alloa inside three weeks and local passengers will be relieved to have the machine fully up and running, even if it is slightly behind schedule.
Following its installation, Rebecca Martin (below), on holiday from Australia, unsuccessfully attempted to be the first person to use the machine. Rebecca had travelled to Alloa to have a look around the town her grandfather James Archibald lived in before emigrating down under.
The Earl of Mar, who is a transport spokesman in the House of Lords, had criticised ScotRail for not anticipating the demand from passengers travelling from the Wee County.
He said, “Given the number of people who have used the train to and from Alloa so far it is as well that ScotRail have announced a dramatic improvement to ticketing in Alloa.
“Provided that these words become actions, ScotRail ought to be forgiven for being caught out at first.”
The train line was an immediate hit on opening, helped by ScotRail’s announced that up to two children aged between five and 15 can ride on the line for free with one fare paying adult.
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