This week's Community Column is written by Helensburgh and Lomond's MSP Jackie Baillie.

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LAST week I organised a multi-agency summit to crack down on anti-social behaviour in and around Helensburgh Central station.

The situation has reached a critical stage with a recent escalation in violence and abuse leaving staff and passengers fearing for their safety.

There are numerous reports of a small group of teenagers terrorising passengers and abusing staff. In the last week I understand that one of the young people threatened to assault a member of staff.

Passengers have put up with this totally unacceptable behaviour for too long and ScotRail staff should be able to go to work free from harm.

I have been speaking to all the relevant agencies since April this year but, despite the efforts of ScotRail and the police, a known group of young people who are responsible for much of the disorder continue to cause distress.

The RMT trade union, representing staff, believes that unless order is restored quickly then members of staff will refuse to work in Helensburgh for safety reasons.

The train drivers’ union, ASLEF, has warned that drivers are prepared to boycott any services beyond Dumbarton.

It is that serious, which is why I called the emergency meeting with social services, police and ScotRail in order to focus the minds of all the relevant agencies.

We need robust action now to keep staff and passengers safe and maintain the local rail service.

Kilcreggan Ferry: Keeping the focus on public transport, I also met recently with SPT to discuss the future of the Kilcreggan ferry service.

Hardly a week goes by without the operators, Clydelink, proving themselves to be utterly incompetent and incapable of running a reliable ferry service.

Passengers have been hit by an unacceptable level of disruption over the summer.

First the ferry was cancelled due to maintenance issues and failed safety inspections; then the service was suspended because Clydelink could not find a replacement skipper.

This is not the first time passengers have been let down and local ferry users are, by necessity, a stoical bunch, but Clydelink’s latest farce would try the patience of a saint.

I have called on SPT to cancel the contract and provide an alternative, reliable operator.

I have also asked for a meeting with the transport minister to try and find an interim solution whilst we wait for the outcome of the delayed ferries review.

I will not be letting them off the hook and I will keep pressing SPT and the transport minister to take direct action to improve the service.