Row over cash machines as barriers move the goalposts for passengers

The two ATMs are now separated from the main concourse at Queen Street station in Glasgow by barriers moved back to ease a bottleneck around platforms.

However, this has left travellers awaiting trains unable to get cash to buy items at the station shops and kiosks before going through the ticket gates.

Passengers alighting from trains have also walked through the gates on to the concourse before realising that they can no longer reach the cash machines to withdraw money.

The official passengers' watchdog has called for swift action to resolve the situation.

Robert Samson, Scotland manager of Passenger Focus, said: "This is not an ideal situation with the cash machines being located behind the barriers. We hope this will be resolved.

"Passengers would like to see them at a location where they can get their money out before going through the ticket gates.

"It was sensible to move the barriers to address the bottleneck and improve ease of access and egress. However, an unintended consequence has been the access problem for the cash machines."

The station is used by nearly 19 million passengers a year, second only to Glasgow Central north of the Border.

The problem, which has continued for two months, has been caused by a row between train operator ScotRail, which runs the station, and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

It is understood that the bank, which is responsible for both the RBS and NatWest machines, has refused to move them to a corridor on the west side of the station because it regards the new location as unsuitable.

It is also believed that there was an agreement between ScotRail and the bank that RBS would move the machines if required at its own cost. However, a spokesman for the bank said: "We are waiting to hear from ScotRail regarding an alternative location."

ScotRail said it was looking at alternative sites. A spokesman said: "We are in discussions with other suppliers to have machines installed outwith the gates. Revenue protection is one of our key priorities and automatic ticket gates have been very successful in reducing ticketless travel, as well as ensuring people can access or exit platforms more quickly and easily."

Passengers yesterday expressed mixed views about the situation.

One woman who regularly travels between Edinburgh and Glasgow said: "I was quite annoyed when I noticed this.

"It means you may not be able to buy a ticket with cash, or a coffee or a paper for the train."

However, a man who commutes between Stepps and Glasgow said: "I'm quite happy with it because it cuts down the queues to use the cash machines."