TRAIN services in Cumnock, Doon Valley and Upper Nithsdale received another blow as Scotrail announced they are to cut direct trains to Newcastle by 60 per cent.

The new summer timetable – which comes into force on May 20 – would see five current daily services cut to just two.

That means many of the passengers travelling to Newcastle will have to change at Carlisle and face a wait – in some cases of over an hour – to get a connecting train from Carlisle to Newcastle.

In the opposite direction, the sole direct train from Newcastle to Kilmarnock will leave at 6.30am from May 20 – a reduction from the three current services.

There remain no direct services either way on a Sunday.

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has now written to the chief executive of Scotrail, Alex Hynes, seeking a reversal of the decision.

Mr Smyth said: “It is disappointing that once again our area is being forgotten about when it comes to rail services.

“When Abellio were competing for the Scotrail franchise they made all sorts of promises of better services for people in the south of Scotland but so far not only have they failed to deliver, they are now actually cutting trains.

“The service that runs on the Nith Valley line between Glasgow and Newcastle was the only direct link for Dumfries and Galloway and East Ayrshire with two major cities and at a time Scotrail are telling us they are investing in improvements to services in the central belt and the north of Scotland, they are axing those in the south west.

“Passengers trying to get to Newcastle will now often have to change at Carlisle where they will wait in some cases for over an hour for a connecting train from a different rail company, which is typical of the lack of joined up thinking between our privatised rail companies.

“I have written to the chief executive of Scotrail asking when will the south of Scotland start to get parity of service with other parts of Scotland instead of seeing cuts all the time. My fear is this will be the tip of the iceberg and we will start to lose direct services from Glasgow next.”