PASSENGER numbers at some rail stations across Clydebank and north-west Glasgow are down by more than 10 per cent, according to new figures.

Critics said the numbers highlight the poor service of ScotRail and the problem of trains skipping stations to try to improve performance figures.

But ScotRail insisted the statistics, from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), could not be used to judge their service.

Of 13 stations across West Dunbartonshire, eight saw their passenger numbers drop. 

Clydebank saw 33,000 fewer entries and exits, a 9.58 per cent drop, and Drumry saw a 1 per cent fall. Dalmuir was up 5.64 per cent while Singer rose by more than 2 per cent. 

Anniesland is one of the busiest stations at more than 1.2 million entries and exits, up 5.22 per cent in a year.

But Drumchapel fell by more than 7 per cent or 25,000 and Garscadden is down by 10.35 per cent or 21,000. Scotstounhill is also down 8.28 per cent.

The stations for trains passing through Clydebank instead of Singer were more heavily affected.

Despite the 70 per cent drop in Bowling in 2016-17, the SPT report stated: “There are no significant increases or decreases for the main stations in West Dunbartonshire compared to the previous year but there is substantial shift across the stations - more services from Dumbarton and Dalmuir has resulted in growth but a different stopping pattern has impacted at Kilpatrick and Bowling.”

It also blamed ScotRail performance problems last year and industrial action for having an impact on figures.

Councillor Jim Finn, who is West Dunbartonshire’s representative on the board, said he was unsure the reason for the falling numbers at some stations but that exact figures were impossible because they aren’t counted at many stops.

ScotRail said the ORR figures are just estimates and “not necessarily reflective of the actual passenger numbers for individual stations, which we don’t publish”.

A ScotRail Alliance spokesman said: “We want to encourage as many people as possible to travel by train, and to make their journey a seamless one.

“The investment we are making now – in Smart ticketing, in new ticket machines, in station improvements, in brand new electric trains for the Central Belt and in high-speed trains connecting Scotland’s seven cities – will mean more seats, faster journeys and better services for our customers and help us achieve this goal. 

“It’s all part of our plan to build the best railway Scotland has ever had.”
It was reported that trains skipping stops has increased to as many as 20 a day in Scotland.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf tweeted that the situation was “simply not good enough” and he revealed to MSPs that 0.78 per cent of ScotRail services in 2017 skipped stations - about 20 out of 2,500 trains a day.