Rosco’s Rolls has opened a kiosk at Airdrie station, and ScotRail’s issued a press release about it like they’ve solved rail infrastructure in Scotland. It’s a coffee and breakfast roll shop. Open 7am to 1pm, Monday to Friday. This is not the Second Coming.
ScotRail’s commercial director Claire Dickie welcomed it, because that’s what commercial directors do. Lisa Ross, the co-owner, is “thrilled to open”, which is the standard quote for every small business launch since the invention of the press release.
Apparently this is part of a “growing trend of independent businesses at stations”, which sounds like someone in ScotRail’s comms department trying to make leasing retail space sound revolutionary.
The Bare Minimum
I’m glad Airdrie’s got a breakfast roll shop. Genuinely. If you’re catching the early train and you want a bacon roll, it’s now easier. That’s a marginal improvement to someone’s morning, and those matter.
But let’s not pretend this is innovation. Stations have had food kiosks since stations were invented. The fact that ScotRail’s treating this as newsworthy tells you how low the bar’s been set for Scottish rail infrastructure.
You know what would actually be impressive? Reliable heating on trains. Toilets that work. Timetables that don’t collapse every time there’s weather. A breakfast roll kiosk is fine, but it’s not a substitute for functional rail service.
Small Victories
I don’t want to be entirely cynical. Independent businesses at stations are better than chain franchises or nothing at all. Rosco’s Rolls is probably run by people who care about their product, and that counts for something.
But ScotRail’s out here celebrating a 7am coffee shop like they’ve reinvented public transport. Maybe focus on getting the trains to run first, and then we’ll talk about the catering.