ScotRail passengers facing another four weeks of disruption

COMMUTERS are set for further chaos on Scotland’s railways after bosses admitted cancellations and delays will last for at least another month.

ScotRail Alliance managing director Alex Hynes yesterday issued an apology to passengers, announcing a new compensation scheme for those worst affected by the disruption.

He admitted recent service had been ‘unacceptable’ but said this had been necessary as drivers and conductors had been taken off trains to attend vital training courses.

Mr Hynes said that would continue through January, and possibly February, in a bid to have staff ready for the rollout of the new Hitachi Class 385 trains.

The admission came as unions protested in Glasgow, calling for Abellio to be stripped of the ScotRail franchise. They have urged Transport Secretary Michael Matheson to allow a public sector bid for the franchise.

Mr Hynes has been criticised for limiting the number of available staff – but blamed this on manufacturers failing to deliver the trains on time.

Yesterday, he said: ‘We are very sorry to our ScotRail customers for unacceptable service in parts of the country recently. While our teams work hard every day to deliver the service you demand, the reality is we’ve fallen below the standard you expect and deserve.’

He went on to outline a series of challenges faced by the firm, such as training for staff, the late delivery of new trains and strike action – but he admitted: ‘It doesn’t excuse what has happened.’

Mr Hynes said there were many more drivers and conductors yet to be trained, but added: ‘We have seen the level of cancellations reduce steadily over the last few weeks. We expect week-on-week improvement through January and February to get your service back to normal levels.’

Mr Hynes also revealed extra compensation will be paid to season ticket holders who have been affected by cancellations.

He said: ‘This is a goodwill gesture to say sorry to our most loyal customers, and to thank them for their patience.’

It will involve offering season ticket holders, plus one other person, free travel anywhere in Scotland over six specified weekends in March, April and May.

They can also claim under the Delay Repay Guarantee scheme, which allows passengers to get their money back if their train is delayed by more than 30 minutes.

Scottish Tory transport spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘There is no way this offer will adequately compensate passengers for the delays and chaos. What they want is real action to ensure they have an effective and reliable service, not cheap offers to buy them off.

‘Despite the SNP talking tough on improving our train service, they have totally failed to get a grip on the situation.’

Scottish Labour transport spokesman Colin Smyth said: ‘If ScotRail really did want to give the travelling public a fair deal for the delays, cancellations and overcrowding they have suffered, they would have backed Labour’s call for a fare freeze.

‘With prices rising and performances plunging, it is no surprise more people are backing Labour’s calls to bring our railways into public ownership so we have a system run for passengers, not profits.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘ScotRail’s performance has not been where it should be and it is only right this is acknowledged through an apology and compensation offer.

‘There is still work to be done and ministers are clear that focus must remain on restoring performance to the high standards passengers expect and deserve.’