ScotRail has come in for criticism after a well intended gift handout was questioned by passengers.
Rail staff have visited stations across Scotland as part of the train operator’s winter roadshow.
Aside from raising awareness of steps passengers can take to ensure their journeys are as efficient as possible during the winter period, customers have also been handed free gifts including lip balm and mini mobile phone chargers.
Despite the well intended nature of the gifts, some passengers have been critical of the move.
Bemused commuters took to Twitter to criticise the operator for giving out the gifts while train ticket prices rise.
One commuter, Lauren Wilson, said: “Maybe you could have not wasted money producing these and kept fares down?”
Jeez…thanks for the free lip balm @ScotRail … maybe you could have not wasted money producing these and kept fares down? #scotrail pic.twitter.com/zpDVh7hJYz
— Lauren ? (@Lauren_WilsonK) January 9, 2017
Angry passenger Ian Mitchell posted: “Last week above inflation ticket price increase, now free lip balm? Rubbing price increase in our faces literally?”
.@ScotRail last week above inflation ticket price increase, now free lip balm? Rubbing price increase in our faces literally? pic.twitter.com/5HMQJ8tiNV
— Ian Mitchell (@ianmsmitchell) January 9, 2017
However, the gifts were welcomed by some.
A grateful Bronagh Rafferty said: “Cheers to the winter roadshow team @ScotRail Dundee. Very helpful.”
Cheers to the winter roadshow team @ScotRail Dundee. Very helpful esp. the tall one, the ginger one and the other one!!! #freebie pic.twitter.com/fIZQGxyF7c
— Bronagh Raftery (@bronagh2) January 12, 2017
Liam Kerr, Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East Region, said: “I’m sure the winter gift promotion from ScotRail was well-intentioned, but it is not surprising to see a backlash from passengers who are fed up with the poor level of service.
“The best way to get those disgruntled travellers back on board is to improve the customer experience and make sure the trains are running on time.”
A ScotRail Alliance spokesman said: “Our winter readiness roadshows have stretched from Bathgate to Inverness and they’ve been well received by customers who want to keep updated on their rail service during poor weather.
“When we chat with customers they also receive an information leaflet and small complimentary item like a lip balm.”
