Rail complaints lead to increased police presence on late night Inverness to Aberdeen trains

ROWDY rail passengers travelling home after nights out in Inverness have sparked increased police patrols.

British Transport Police said it had been forced to heighten its presence on the last Inverness to Aberdeen train on Saturday nights following a number of complaints from passengers and staff.

Sergeant Kevin Lawrence, the BTP officer in charge at Inverness, said: "Staff have reported being subjected to verbal abuse by people, mostly from Elgin or Keith who appear to have spent the day or evening in Inverness, and been told that they cannot continue to drink on the train due to ScotRail’s policy which restricts the sale and consumption of alcohol."

ScotRail bans all consumption of alcohol on its trains between 9pm and 10am. Passengers are also barred from visibly carrying alcohol during those times, whether visible or not.

Sergeant Lawrence said the 9.33pm service out of Inverness was usually very busy and passengers should not be forced to endure the unwelcome behaviour of others.

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