SCOTRAIL has pledged to take a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime on its services in Renfrewshire.

The train operator is supporting the new Hate Crime Charter, established by Disability Equality Scotland and partners on behalf of Transport Scotland, which aims to ensure disabled people feel safe from hate crime and harassment when using public transport.

Instruction in hate crime and disability awareness will be offered to ScotRail staff by Police Scotland and disability organisation People First Scotland.

Rail passengers are also being urged to report any incidents of hate crime by alerting a member of staff, texting British Transport Police or, in an emergency, dialling 999.

Alex Hynes, managing director of infrastructure operator Scotland’s Railway, said: “Everyone has the right to travel safely. Hate crime has no place in society and is a disgraceful way of targeting someone on the grounds of their disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.

“ScotRail is proud to be one of the first transport providers to sign up to the Hate Crime Charter and we will do all we can to help outlaw this despicable offence.”