Heated debate

Had we been dogs in an overheated car, the SSPCA would have nailed the driver who abandoned us. But we were just First ScotRail long-distance passengers travelling 200 miles from Kyle of Lochalsh to Aberdeen on Tuesday.

The journey involved two trains, Kyle to Inverness and from there to Aberdeen, and the air-conditioning would not work, so the conductor had to unlock windows. Even this didn't work, and the temperature inside the trains remained at blast temperature.

Both trains involved were the wretched 158s, railway stock of such a poor quality that no other European nation uses them for long-distance work. This fault in train heating has long been known – for years actually – but First ScotRail continues to dish up this extreme form of passenger discomfort.

Just for the record, a heatwave didn't sweep northern Scotland on Tuesday, and a weatherman gave me a temperature of 19C for the day.

GORDON CASELY

Hill Street

Aberdeen