Cancelled trains hit a new high
Scot Rail has blamed Storm Ali for a record number of train service cancellations on Scotland’s railways.
The operator says the storm was mainly to blame as cancellations hit 3.66 per cent of services across the country between 16 September and 13 October. Many axed services are also down to Network Rail which maintains the tracks.
The number of train services being cancelled on Scotland’s railways has reached a new high amid growing calls for services to be take into public hands.
Operator Scotrail says the recent Storm Ali was mainly to blame as cancellations hit 3.66 per cent of services across the country between 16 September and 13 October. Many axed services are also down to Network Rail which maintains the tracks and has seen engineering works run over.
MSPS will vote on the future of the Scotrail franchise tomorrow with Labour calling for the Scottish Government to exercise an early “break clause” in the deal with Dutch national operator Abellio which currently runs services.
Labour transport spokesperson Colin Smyth said: “Scotrail’s cancellations are now the worst on record, with more and more passengers being left stranded.
“The number of services being cancelled is now more than triple the same period of previous years – meaning Scotrail’s failings are getting worse.
“That is a failing franchise, in a failing franchising system and passengers have had enough.”
The spike in cancellations has been put down to the impact of Storm Ali on 19 September which battered the country with torrential winds and brought widespread disruption to the entire transport network. Most high level trains between Glasgow and Edinburgh were suspended due to unsafe conditions and Scotrail issued a warning to commuters not to travel with an amber weather warning in place.
It accounted for 2.3 per cent of the 3.66 per cent of cancellations during this period. This is the worst under the current performance and cancellation performance figures going back to 2015. It compares with a previous high of 3.13 per cent between mid December and January.
Scotrail Alliance managing director Alex Hynes said: “We faced significant challenges during Storm Ali which had an understandable impact on our performance.
He added: “We are investing billions in improved infrastructure and hundreds of millions of pounds on new and upgraded trains as we continue to do everything we can to improve performance. It’s part of our plan to build the best railway Scotland has ever had.”
But Scotrail has come under fire in recent years amid growing anger among travellers about overcrowding, delays and cancellations, as well as the controversial practice of skip-stopping.
It was criticised in August when it emerged that its performance for punctuality and reliability of trains had fallen to a three-year low, against official PPM targets.
Transport secretary Michael Matheson revealed recently that he has allowed “temporary waiver” on targets until next June.
The issue will come under the spotlight at the Scottish Parliament tomorrow when Labour will bring a vote on the prospect bringing trains back into public hands.