Jackie Baillie has accused the Scottish Government of “making a mockery” of public consultation after forging ahead with a plan to slash railway ticket offices.

It was announced in October that a host of platform booking offices throughout the area were facing swingeing cuts.

But ScotRail confirmed yesterday (Wednesday), that it would press on with reductions in booking office provision.

The Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, has also rubber-stamped the move – despite public concern.

Balloch, Dalreoch, Alexandria and Helensburgh Central were amongst 101 stations threatened with cuts.

The move, announced by ScotRail, marked the resurrection of a plan initially floated in 2022 but shelved over safety concerns.

Former Transport Secretary , Jenny Gilruth, commissioned a report into the proposed closures at that time, which found that “well-lit and staffed stations provided the greatest comfort” for women and girls using railways.

It also found that females travelling aboard public transport in Scotland find themselves in a “constant state of vigilance”, “always looking over their shoulder”.

Incredibly, the report also found that: “At stations, women spoke about feeling more comfortable if ticket offices were open and staffed (especially later at night) and also if there were staff close to or in waiting room areas.”

Fears are rife that the cuts will have a disproportionate effect on female and disabled commuters.

Under the new plans, ticket offices will open less.

Some stations will see opening hours slashed by more than 80 per cent.

Staffed hours at Dalreoch station face being cut by 81.1 per cent.

Plans will also see opening hours at Balloch station slashed by 51.7 per cent, with Alexandria facing a 73.5 per cent reduction.

There are significant concerns as services on the Balloch line have been plagued by anti-social behaviour and widespread youth disruption in recent years.

A multi-agency approach involving ScotRail, British Transport Police and Police Scotland had to be undertaken in a bid to combat difficulties on services and at stations during summer months.

It is feared that staffing reductions at stations will add to the problem and make travellers feel less safe.

ScotRail has denied this and claim that staff are no longer needed at ticket offices due to changes in ticket purchase and falling booking office sales.

Crucially, they argue that staff will not lose their jobs and will be redeployed elsewhere, including aboard rail services, to help passengers.

Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie joined forces with rail workers’ union the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, to help fight the cuts.

She met with union leaders and members at Balloch station last month, to help raise awareness of the planned cuts amongst commuters.

The politician also wrote to the Cabinet Secretary and ScotRail, demanding the plans were reconsidered on safety grounds.

But the news broke this week that the rail operator would press on with the cuts.

MSP Jackie said: “I am utterly disgusted by the wholesale resurrection of this plan which we successfully fought two years ago.

“It was recognised then that this would have a disproportionate impact on female and disabled commuters and nothing has changed.

“ScotRail has not listened to the concerns of the public, politicians or railway workers and they have failed to update the previous consultation.

“This makes a mockery of public engagement and it comes at a time when we are trying to promote rail travel as a safe and reliable alternative to private cars to achieve climate change targets.

“I have written again to Fiona Hyslop to express my concern. Commuters are paying more and getting poorer services.”

Affected stations will see their hours cut from March 31st.