Scotrail relief as punctuality improves after big disruption
Labour accuses minister of ‘moving goalposts’ so as to ensure target is hit
Scotrail punctuality has improved for the first time in three months despite disruption from staff training and industrial action.
Average performance over the past year also stopped falling for the first time since May.
However, the latest fourweekly figure of 83.4 per cent is only 0.1 per cent better than the same period last year – the standard comparison.
That is the proportion of trains arriving at their destination within five minutes of schedule over the four weeks to last Saturday. It compares to 80.5 per cent for the previous four-week period and 81.8 per cent in the preceding one.
The “moving annual average”, for the year to 8 December was unchanged at 87.3 per cent.
The latest figure does not take into account 520 cancellations caused by a backlog of staff training ahead of 100 extra daily services being launched last Sunday.
However, Scotrail said “unplanned” cancellations caused by this and industrial action by the RMT union had affected the figure.
A spokesman said incidents with the biggest impact on performance were a track fault at Corkerhill on the Glasgow-paisley Canal line, a train fault at Croy on the main Edinburgh-glasgow line and flooding at Falkirk Grahamston.
Managing director Alex Hynes said: “We know it has been a challenging time, but it is encouraging to see our punctuality has improved in recent weeks.”
Scottish Conservatives transport spokesman Jamie Greene said: “After months of having to endure the worst punctuality for over a decade, passengers will welcome the improved figures.
“However, they remain low by historical standards, so there is still more work to do.”
Colin Smyth, his Scottish Labour counterpart, claimed ministers had “moved the goalposts” to avoid a further Scotrail remedial plan, which was a “massive embarrassment” to transport secretary Michael Matheson.
He said: “Scotland’s hardpressed rail passengers are being let down by delays, cancellations and overcrowding.”
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “In a week where we should be celebrating the biggest increase in services and capacity, enabled by our ambitious electrification programme delivered by Network Rail, instead we are once again talking about performance, albeit slightly improved this period.
“Ministers have repeatedly stated there can be no clearer need for immediate, consistent improvement.”
adalton@scotsman.com