WHILST sympathising with passengers having to endure train services ("Arctic conditions found on board the Polar Express", The Herald, March 12) lacking in warmth on journeys between Oban and Glasgow with recourse to hot water bottles and demand for blankets, I can state in times past when loco-hauled carriages were heated from the steam locomotive similar failures regarding heating on services throughout the system prevailed in periods of severe winter weather such as recently experienced.
Admittedly these reflections have nothing to do with the present time but it must be borne in mind the onerous task that staff have always had in service provision in extreme weather conditions.
I am also aware that many will regard the stock presently in use on the service route in question as inadequate for a multitude of reasons, but ScotRail can only use what it has and run to the best of its ability.
John Macnab,
175 Grahamsdyke Street, Laurieston, Falkirk.
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