Rail staff could refuse to work on trains to and from Balloch this summer unless anti-social behaviour is curbed by the authorities, a union official has warned.

The RMT’s regional organiser for Scotland, Mick Hogg, issued the warning last week – and said that rising crime levels mean it could only be a matter of time before a rail worker is seriously injured or killed as a result of thugs using train services.

Earlier this year the Reporter revealed how the number of crimes reported at West Dunbartonshire railway stations have rocketed by almost 50 percent.

Across the area 92 offences were reported to British Transport Police (BTP) in the year up to November 2021, with criminal damage and fire-raising, violent or sexual offences and thefts all common.

That compares with a total of 62 crimes reported to BTP in the 12 months to November 2019 – despite a dramatic drop in the number of passengers during the pandemic.

Mr Hogg told the Reporter: “The anti-social behaviour is getting worse. It is not getting better.

“There aren’t any quick fixes to this, but from a union perspective we are not going to sit back and allow the issue to continue.

“If nothing gives in terms of the anti-social behaviour, then we will instruct our members to not to work those particular lines.

“We find it quite ironic that authorities can ban people from shopping centres and football grounds, then why can’t we ban those people from Scotland’s railways?

“This issue needs to be stamped out or someone will be seriously injured or, god forbid, ends up losing their life. And I don’t want to have to turn round and say ‘told you so’.”

Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton constituency MSP, said: “No-one should feel unsafe when they are at work. I commend the RMT for standing by their members and passengers as this is completely unacceptable.

“There is clearly a need for more British Transport Police to be on our railways. We need stations which are properly staffed rather than ticket offices in our area being stripped back.

“With ScotRail now under public ownership, this ill-thought out plan needs to be reversed and more resources are needed for the police.”

A BTP spokesperson said: “Through partnership working with ScotRail and Police Scotland, we’re working tirelessly to deter criminality and anti-social behaviour on the railway network, and we have been increasing patrols on the Balloch line using targeted operations to deter offending.

“Where offences involving youths take place, we regularly engage with schools and campus officers to identify those responsible and deal with them accordingly.

“We will take action as the railway needs to be a safe place for everyone using it.”