Ayr freight train drivers can go

Feb 12 2010 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

RAIL freight giants deny they want to close Ayr’s Falkland Yard.

But they admit they want to end its use as a train crew base.

And DB Schenker, owners of the EWS freight trains, say around 30 jobs will go.

The firm say they are in talks with Scotrail to see if some of their freight drivers can find new jobs as passenger drivers.

This information is contained in a statement DB Schenker have made to the Ayrshire Post and to Sandra Osborne MP, who had been contacted by DBS drivers.

The statement spells out: “Due to the commissioning of a new loop at Kilmarnock by Network Rail, enabling a better performing railway for the operation of both passenger and freight trains, there is a reduced requirement for train crew to be resourced from Ayr for DB Schenker services.

“As a result, DB Schenker has begun a consultation process with its trade unions regarding a proposal to close its train crew facility in Ayr.

“This process does not impact on DB Schenker’s existing services at Falkland Yard, which is not closing, for the operation of coal train services.

“We are co-operating fully with the relevant trade unions with regards to employees who work at the depot.

“Approximately 30 employees are affected by this decision. Both DB Schenker and the trade unions are reviewing options for alternative employment across the company, and are also working with Scotrail to see if any of these employees would be able to transfer to them.”

DB Schenker go on to say they would like to offload what they say is ‘disused railway land’ at Tryfield Place.

Their statement goes on: “DB Schenker has been in discussions with South Ayrshire Council for two years over a potential planning application for housing on disused railway land at Tryfield Place. This is not connected with the existing operational depot in Ayr. Discussions over a potential application for the Tryfield Place site continue with the council.”

But the Post has been told that far from being ‘disused’, Tryfield Place is used for refuelling.

And there is a maintenance shed there to repair train wagons.

South Ayrshire planners also seemed to think Tryfield Place was in use, when they last month kicked out a planning application for houses.

Much of DB Schenker’s business in Ayrshire is moving imported coal from Hunterston and home coal from Ayrshire opencasts to power stations in Fife and Yorkshire.

The new loop at Kilmarnock means a Carlisle-based driver can complete a run in one shift.

And that’s why DBS wants to end its train crews at Ayr.

Train drivers’ union ASLEF says both Carlisle and Ayr should be retained as train crew bases.