Give North Ayrshire the same access to late-night public transport as the rest of Ayrshire

We, the undersigned, are calling on ScotRail, Stagecoach and the relevant transport authorities to improve late-night public transport connections between Glasgow and North Ayrshire.

At present, the last train from Glasgow towards North Ayrshire is far too early for many people who work, study or attend events in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The situation is particularly difficult on Saturdays, when the last train currently leaves Glasgow at approximately 11:15pm, while on other days the final service is around 11:45pm.

Even 11:45pm is too early for people attending concerts, theatre performances, sporting events, festivals and other evening entertainment. It is particularly problematic during events such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where performances can finish late in the evening and returning to North Ayrshire by public transport can become extremely difficult or impossible.

North Ayrshire residents should not have to leave events early simply to catch the last train home.

There are already late-night bus services from Glasgow towards places such as Ayr and Kilmarnock, demonstrating that there is demand for people travelling home after the normal rail timetable has ended. However, communities including Saltcoats, Stevenston, Ardrossan and Largs are left without comparable late-night connections.

This creates an unfair situation where residents of North Ayrshire can travel to Glasgow or Edinburgh for work, entertainment and cultural events, but are effectively forced to leave early, pay for expensive taxis/private transport, or find alternative accommodation simply because there is no suitable public transport home.

We are therefore calling for:

- Later ScotRail services from Glasgow towards North Ayrshire, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.

- A review of the feasibility of trains operating later than midnight.

- Improved late-night Stagecoach bus connections from Glasgow to Saltcoats, Stevenston, Ardrossan and Largs.

- Better coordination between rail and bus services so that North Ayrshire residents are not left stranded when the final train has departed.

- Consideration of additional late-night services during major events, festivals and periods of particularly high demand.

Public transport should allow people to participate fully in the cultural, social and economic life of Scotland without being disadvantaged because of where they live.

North Ayrshire should not be the forgotten end of the transport network. We are asking ScotRail, Stagecoach and the relevant transport authorities to give North Ayrshire residents a realistic way to get home after a night out, a concert, a show or an evening at work.