A DUNDEE woman has hit out at the treatment of elderly rail passengers after she was refused permission to escort her parents on to a train.
Fiona MacGregor was shocked when she was not allowed through the barriers to wait with the couple on the platform at the city’s railway station.
Her parents, both in their eighties, were returning home to Preston after spending the festive period with their daughter.
Ms MacGregor, who has recently moved to Dundee from Dumfriesshire, said: “I went to the ticket office to see about a platform ticket but was told that in order to go on the platform I would need to buy a train ticket.
“The cheapest one was to Broughty Ferry and in desperation I agreed to purchase one.
“Then I was told I would have to buy a return ticket because I would need to be able to get both in and out of the barriers.”
Ms MacGregor balked at the cost of the return ticket and was again refused entry to the platform after pleading her case to a different member of staff.
She added: “My poor parents had a heavy suitcase and some bags of Christmas presents.
“In the end, the lady on the gate told me she would make sure they were pointed in the right direction and I was grateful for that.
“But there I was, some hours later, not knowing whether they got on the train or not. This never happened at Lockerbie, our Dumfriesshire station.
“What would happen if someone had a baby in a pushchair or was disabled?”
A spokesman for ScotRail stressed that only people with valid train tickets are allowed access to platforms where there are barriers.
They said this was a UK-wide security measure and was not exclusive to ScotRail, while platform tickets have not been issued for many years and Lockerbie station does not use barriers.
The spokesman added: “I can assure you that we try and give all the help that’s needed to our elderly or disabled customers and others.
“As such, our staff wherever possible will assist them to board trains whether or not they have booked assistance in advance.
“It would appear such an offer was made in this case. We will investigate and, as is right and proper, will respond directly to the customer should a complaint be lodged.”
sgillespie@thecourier.co.uk