Rail firm’s failing to meet targets

Punctuality and reliability comes under scrutiny

An MSP has hit out at Scotrail performance figures in the Mid Scotland and Fife area in recent months.

Statistics show that only 59.3 per cent of train arrivals at Crianlarich were on time with Dunblane at 70.1 per cent and Stirling at 64.4 per cent.

Figures for train services terminating at these stations were 58.6 per cent, 79.4 per cent and 78.5 per cent respectively.

Crianlarich’s Public Performance Measure (PPM) was 78.4 per cent, Dunblane’s 91.2 per cent and Stirling’s 91.5 per cent.

The Scotrail target is 91.7 per cent.

The figures for Alloa were 91.1 per cent for train arrival times, 91.1 for termination time, with a PPM of 97.4 per cent.

The PPM is assessed on punctuality (the percentage of trains which arrive at their final destination within five minutes of the advertised time) and reliability (the percentage of advertised trains which did operate).

Commenting Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith MSP said: “These latest figures are a depressing indictment of the current state of our railways.

“For far too long, ScotRail’s performance has been poor.

“And it is up to the Scottish Government to sort out problems with the franchise.

“The SNP must get ScotRail back on track and that means ensuring customer satisfaction is up and more trains arrive on time.”

But Minister for transport and the islands, Humza Yousaf, pointed out: “Given that 54 per cent of performance issues are infrastructure-related, there is a clear need for the greater devolution and better governance arrangements for Network Rail in Scotland which we have called for so many times.

“Closing this accountability gap and improving efficiency is a necessity as we move towards a system of grant based funding from 2019 onwards.

“It should be acknowledged the existing Performance Improvement Plan had been working well.

“But the dip in performance since the autumn must and will be addressed.

“This should not take away from the very real efforts made by staff up and down the country in the face of unrelenting, often unwarranted, criticism and their dedication should be commended.”

The minister concluded by adding: “I am not complacent and fully expect this recent downward trend to be addressed immediately.”

A ScotRail Alliance spokesperson commented: “The autumn and winter seasons present difficulties for the railway, and this year has been no different.

“Despite this, the most recent figures show that nine out of ten of our trains met their target time over the past year, which is why ScotRail is the best performing large operator in the United Kingdom.

“But we aren’t complacent, and will continue to push ourselves to deliver the high standards our customers expect. Our brand new electric trains are due to start running this year, and our high-speed trains, which will give customers more comfortable journeys, will connect Scotland’s seven cities.

“The work we are doing will mean faster journeys, more seats and better services for our customers.”

For far too long Scot Rail’s performance has been poor