SNP blames private f irms for rail woes
PRIVATE contractors are to blame for a surge in cancellations and delays on Scotland’s railways, the Transport Secretary claimed yesterday.
Michael Matheson was accused of passing the blame as he refused to accept responsibility for the chaos passengers suffered this week.
However, Mr Matheson said many of the problems in recent days were due to Japanese firm Hitachi failing to deliver trains on time.
The minister said this meant ScotRail bosses had a much shorter space of time in which to train staff, leaving many routes short of crews.
The row came as commuters faced further rail chaos last night on the key route between Glasgow and Edinburgh after a train broke down at Croy, Lanarkshire.
Addressing Holyrood’s rural economy and connectivity committee, Mr Matheson admitted that the problems were ‘unacceptable’.
But only a day after meeting ScotRail boss Alex Hynes, softened his anger on the franchise, instead focusing on private contractors.
Mr Matheson said the ‘late arrival’ of Hitachi 385 trains meant ScotRail’s ‘programme for training the crews on the new trains is behind schedule’.
Mr Matheson also criticised other private firms for failing to deliver contracts on time.
He said: ‘In terms of rolling stock there are three areas where there are delays. Hitachi 385s, the reason for the delay, Hitachi. The reason for delays in the new Caledonian Sleeper, CAF, the company manufacturing the new trains. The reason
‘Always someone else’s fault’
for the delay in the refurbishment of the high-speed trains is Wabtech, the private firm responsible for refurbishment.’
Mr Matheson said he had made it ‘very clear’ to firms that delays are having an ‘unacceptable’ impact on the railways.
Scottish Conservative trans- port spokesman Jamie Greene said Mr Matheson was refusing to accept blame for the issues facing rail passengers.
He added: ‘The failure to take any responsibility for the horrendous disruption on the railways is a hallmark of this SNP administration.
‘It’s always someone else’s fault, the weather, the operator, the manufacturer.
‘Not once has the Transport Secretary said sorry for the mess he is in charge of. The SNP’s lack of management or oversight is demonstrably failing commuters and businesses who rely on our trains.’
But Mr Matheson said he had made it clear to ScotRail bosses the recent cancellations were not to the standard expected by the Government.
Yesterday, it was confirmed an overtime ban by the RMT union, which ScotRail bosses said had exacerbated crew shortages this week, was over.
Mr Matheson was also criticised over ScotRail’s failure to hit key performance targets, with the minister admitting that he does not know if they will ever be met.
ScotRail has not met a punctuality target since 2015.
Scottish Labour transport spokesman Colin Smyth said: ‘The Government has confirmed there is no end in sight to the delays and cancellations which are causing so much misery to passengers.’