Ms Seaton said in response to questions about train timetables asked by the Shadow Minister for Transport Michael Gallacher, Michael Costa blamed the additional five minutes per hour on the timetable on the "older citizens."

"The Minister never fails to amaze me with his ability to duck and weave," Ms Seaton said.

"The reason the trains are so unreliable couldn't possible have anything to do with the Minister's bad management of his Transport portfolio, could it?

"Now he wants to pass the buck to the elderly and disabled in our community who might take longer to get on and off a train. The Minister should be ashamed.

"While train services are being delayed, disrupted and cancelled the Minister's answer is simply to turn around and blame someone or something else, and in this case it's the less able bodied.

Full story in Friday's Southern Highland News.