'Reliable' train stuck for two hours outside new station

SCOTLAND'S Transport Minister hailed trains as "the most reliable form of travel" when he opened Bathgate's new station - before the first train was stuck on the track for nearly two hours.

Stewart Stevenson swept into Bathgate just before 10am yesterday on board a ScotRail service to officially open the new station, ahead of December's opening of the 300 million Airdrie-Bathgate line.

But while Mr Stevenson's train was on time, the 9.18am service to Edinburgh was forced to stop on the outskirts of the town until just after 11am because of problems with the electrified lines - before heading back where passengers were either given a refund or put on a bus.

The problem caused severe disruptions to trains until 1pm and buses were used to ferry passengers to Edinburgh Park.

When making his opening speech, the MSP told a crowd that: "To be blunt, trains are the most reliable form of transport."

But the transport minister and rail bosses were left red-faced when the grand opening was marred

Student nurse Rhian Sutherland, 31, from Bathgate, who was on the 9.18 service, said: "We hadn't even made it out of Bathgate before the train stopped. It's just typical for it to be the first day of the new station."