The Minister now arriving at rail summit is 4 months late

SCOTLAND’s new Transport Secretary did not meet bosses of the rail company running the country’s trains for four months – thanks to an extraordinary blunder.

When Michael Matheson was appointed last summer, he immediately demanded a meeting with the bosses of Abellio, which runs the £7 billion ScotRail franchise.

But red-faced officials have admitted the key meeting was delayed because the invitation to Abellio was sent to the wrong address – and it was months before anyone got around to chasing it up.

In the meantime, Scotland’s long-suffering commuters were left to endure the misery of late and overcrowded trains. It is understood Mr Matheson was keen to meet Abellio bosses when he started his new job in late June.

A letter was duly sent to the company and officials waited for the response. After hearing nothing for three months they contacted Abellio in September. It was only then they realised the letter had wrongly been sent to the company’s London office, rather than Glasgow, and the request had been overlooked.

It was another full month before Mr Matheson finally sat down with Abellio bosses, on October 29, according to the parliament’s lobbying register.

Meanwhile, Abellio bosses had met Education Secretary John Swinney at an awards dinner in Glasgow – weeks before they met the Transport Secretary.

Last night, opposition politicians were scathing about a Transport Secretary whose response was more delayed than the average Scottish train.

Scottish Labour transport spokesman Colin Smyth said: ‘Michael Matheson couldn’t run a bath, never mind a railway.

‘While passengers endured delayed and overcrowded trains, the Transport Secretary was waiting four months to speak to the firm he is supposed to be overseeing.

‘It is time for Mr Matheson to get his act together and end the chaos on our railways.’

Scots Tory transport spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘Surely the first thing after taking over as Transport Minister would be to get a grip of his brief.

‘Frankly, it is unbelievable that he took four months to meet the company running Scotland’s rail system, such is his apparent lack of interest in the woe passengers face on a daily basis.’

In September the Scottish Government was accused of ‘shifting the goalposts’ by lowering performance targets for ScotRail so Abellio could get away with more trains delayed without losing its contract.

Yesterday Transport Scotland insisted Mr Matheson had been in regular contact with other officials, including at the ScotRail Alliance.

A spokesman said: ‘The Cabinet Secretary has met with and spoken to Alex Hynes, ScotRail Alliance managing director, on a regular basis.

‘This is in addition to the many routine franchise meetings between Transport Scotland officials and the ScotRail Alliance, which are used to keep Mr Matheson fully informed.’

‘Couldn’t run a bath, never mind railway’