Train times on the right track
Scotland’s Railway has recorded near record levels of punctuality as it continues to provide a critical service for key workers and supports the lifting of lockdown restrictions.
New figures show that 95.5 per cent of trains met the rail industry standard public performance measure during period 1, from April 4 to May 1.
This means trains are arriving at their destination within four minutes and 59 seconds of their timetabled arrival times.
It’s the second best period 1 result ever recorded by the franchise and it boosted ScotRail’s Moving Annual Average (MAA), which measures punctuality across a whole year, to 93 per cent, which is 0.5 per cent above the target of 92.5 per cent.
Almost 2,000 trains a day will be running from Monday - a daily increase of 432 on the schedule announced in February.
Passenger numbers are still hugely down on pre-pandemic levels, however more customers are beginning to travel again on Scotland’s Railway because of the reduction in coronavirus controls.
Passengers will still have to wear a face covering and maintain social distancing in stations and on trains.
David Simpson, ScotRail operations director, said: “It’s great to see that we continue to achieve these very high punctuality figures which are helping keep key workers moving.
“Our new timetable, with more than 400 extra trains a day, is a first step in recognising that more people will want to travel by train as they return towards a more normal way of life.
“The high level of professionalism that ScotRail staff have shown since the first lockdown makes me confident that we will keep rising to the challenge as passenger numbers grow.”