The train now arriving is... likely to be late

A MAJORITY of trains are arriving late at nearly one in three of Scotland’s stations.

Shocking figures show delays are more common than trains running on time in many parts of Scotland.

Out of 73 stations listed in ScotRail’s regular performance report, 22 have punctuality scores of less than 50 per cent over the last year.

The figures were branded ‘unacceptable’ by critics.

The worst performing station was Milngavie, Dunbartonshire, where only 26 per cent of services arrived on time.

Yesterday, ScotRail also published figures showing its performance last week was its best in any seven-day period since Abellio took on the franchise. However, it is still failing to meet key performance targets over the past year.

Scottish Labour transport spokesman Neil Bibby said: ‘These latest results may have a positive headline figure but the devil is always in the detail.

‘The fact that fewer than half of services arrive on time at 22 stations is quite frankly unacceptable.

‘Public satisfaction with ScotRail is at a 14-year low and passengers are losing patience with Transport Minister Humza Yousaf’s failure to act. They are fed up with overcrowded, delayed and cancelled trains.

‘Humza Yousaf cannot allow a repeat of the chaos that blighted the rail network last autumn and winter, and that means getting on top of per

‘Satisfaction at a 14-year low’

formance when weather is better during the summer months.’

Figures published by ScotRail yesterday show that around 95.4 per cent of trains arrived within five minutes of their scheduled time in the week from Sunday June 25 to Saturday July 1. It was the highest score since Dutch firm Abellio took on the tenyear franchise for the country’s trains in April 2015.

However, its average performance over the past year is only at 90.5 per cent – lower than the target of 91.3 per cent written into the ScotRail franchise by Transport Scotland.

And its figures show that 22 stations have failed to achieve 50 per cent punctuality scores over the last year.

Perry Ramsey, operations director at the ScotRail Alliance, said: ‘The most recent figures show that, last week, 95 per cent of trains in Scotland were on time. That’s the best performance since April 2015, which shows that the ScotRail Alliance continues to deliver for passengers all across the country. But there is no complacency here. We know that any delays can be frustrating for passengers, and that’s why we will continue to work hard every single day building the best railway Scotland has ever had.

‘The investment we are making just now will ultimately mean faster trains, more seats and better services.’

Abellio has never met the 91.3 per cent target for its annual average punctuality score since it took on the contract.

At the weekend, Mr Yousaf revealed he is pressing ahead with drawing up plans to return ScotRail to public hands. He confirmed he has met stakeholders with a view to taking over when Abellio’s deal expires in 2025.