THE Scottish Government must review ScotRail’s plans to increase fares by 2.8 per cent in January. It comes as no surprise that the train provider has been dubbed as one of the most expensive in Europe.

Only two years ago the rail provider increased fares by 3.6 per cent, which was the biggest inflation Scottish commuters faced in five years.

Statistics provided by the Office of Rail and Road show an increase in delayed trains caused by ‘Network Management/Other’ increase from 194,053 in 2017-2018 to 248,345 in 2018-2019.

It is also no secret that travellers coming into Glasgow from the west-coast lines face journeys of up to three hours without carriages being heated during the winter, where my bigger concerns lie with young and elderly commuters.

It is only fair to increase ticket costs if Scots begin to see a reflection in improved services.

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YET another report that says vaping could raise the risk of serious lung disease by almost a third.

Professor Stanton Glantz of the University of California, who led the three-year study, said that people were more likely to suffer from conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis and asthma. People have to breathe in these noxious fumes from E-cigarettes and cigarettes as they walk in the streets. Scottish politicians like to boast that “Scotland leads the world in ......”. (Fill in your favourite.) In Scotland one cannot drink alcohol in the street so what about banning E-cigarettes, real cigarettes and pipes?

Then politicians can boast “Scotland leads the world in banning E-cigarette and tobacco on our streets. Others will surely follow.”

Clark Cross

Via email

THERE has been controversial comment over the First Minister’s reaction which was caught by Sky News to the loss of Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson’s seat in the general election.

Nicola Sturgeon has been unfairly branded as “graceless” and “nasty” following her jubilant response the moment she realised the SNP had regained their seat in East Dumbartonshire.

I think what the public are forgetting is that this was not in-fact a loss, but a gain of a young woman in her party who had just successfully unseated a political party leader – essentially marking historical success.

The First Minister has since expressed her condolences for the LibDem leader.

RS

Via email