ScotRail now at risk of breaking its contract
SCOTRAIL is in danger of breaching its contract after a slump in performance, it was claimed yesterday.
Only 88 per cent of Scotland’s trains arrived on time or within five minutes in the four-week period to September 15.
Labour claimed this was a breach of the terms of the ScotRail franchise as it was more than four percentage points lower than the Scottish Government performance target of 92.18 per cent.
But it is understood ministers have agreed with ScotRail to alter the ‘breach’ level because of severe weather, poor infrastructure performance and the effect of delays in cross-Border services. Last week, an Office of Rail and Road report showed ScotRail had the highest number of cancellations and significant delays in 20 years.
Opponents are demanding that the firm is stripped of the franchise if performance falls so far that a ‘break clause’ can be triggered midway through its ten-year contract.
Scottish Labour transport spokesman Colin Smyth said: ‘This is a failing franchise, operating within a failed franchising model. The Scottish Government has the power to end this franchise early – to bring it under public ownership by 2022.
‘Transport Secretary Michael Matheson must now use the franchise break and bring Scotland’s trains under public control so we have a railway system that puts passengers, not profits, first.’
The moving annual average performance figure – which shows the ratio of trains on time or within five minutes of scheduled arrival time – was 88 per cent for the period from August 19 to September 15. If ScotRail’s performance falls below a default level for three consecutive months, operator Abellio could have its franchise terminated.
Manuel Cortes, of union the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, said: ‘Surely this has to be the last nail in the coffin for Abellio.’
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: ‘Claims that ScotRail is in breach of the franchise agreement are not correct.
‘Network Rail’s infrastructure issues in Scotland and the timetable crisis experienced by cross-Border operators in England have impacted on ScotRail’s performance and are considered under the terms of the contract and its application of performance criteria.’
A ScotRail spokesman said: ‘We understand the frustration of our customers when things go wrong, and are working hard to improve the service we provide.’
‘The last nail in Abellio’s coffin’