Kennedy backs move for sleeper booking overhaul

12.00.00am GMT Sat 6th Mar 2010

Ross, Skye & Lochaber MP today urged party colleagues at their annual conference gathering in Perth to support moves to secure the future of the sleeper, and to improve the flawed booking system which makes it 'virtually impossible' for many

passengers to secure the cheapest fares.

Mr Kennedy raised the matter in support of a motion urging the overhaul of rail ticketing and fares in favour of a simpler and more transparent system across Scotland .

He recalled the hard-fought and successful campaign to save the Fort William sleeper when it fell under threat following rail privatisation. Addressing party members he said:

"Since then, the sleeper service has gone from strength to strength, despite lack of investment, despite lack of proper marketing and despite the lack of a clear and transparent ticketing system."

He explained the problems routinely faced by travellers, including the MP himself:

"ScotRail makes cheap tickets available in advance, but they are almost immediately bought up by individuals who anticipate their release. At other times sleepers are shown as fully booked, and customers are turned away, when the trains are not full -

possibly through travel operators securing berths which they later cancel.

"Customers are then confounded by being told a different story at different points of sale. Sometimes berths are available online or on the phone, but not at the station. In other cases, the reverse is true.

"The consensus is that the system is flawed, and frequently fails to match up berths with passengers who wish to travel. The only consistency is that ordinary people find it virtually impossible to obtain the cheap fares which are advertised."

Mr Kennedy pressed the significant unfulfilled potential of the sleeper - especially to the West Highlands and Skye, which have no current air link - and its strong environmental credentials for communities right across Scotland :

"The sleeper in recent times has not been a victim of conspiracy as it was in the past, but of muddle and neglect.

"To realise its huge potential and popularity, we need to invest in its future, and to sort out its ticketing system once and for all. Making it work for ordinary individual customers must be the priority."

The motion proposing a system of simpler and fairer fares was passed by a substantial majority of members attending the conference.

ENDS