Off the rails

Thousands of Scotrail passengers have seen things get worse rather than better, nearly four years after incoming Dutch operator Abellio pledged to “work every day to earn the faith that has been shown in us”.

Most of the delay is due to St Andrews House pen-pushers demanding the absurd front “gangway” be added to the Hitachi trains, causing a cab redesign and consequent curved windscreen problems. The windscreen issue of “ghosting” of signal lights was also exacerbated to the additional layers of laminated glass required to protect drivers from wee neds hurling rocks.

yoyoegg

The whole Hitachi business needs an urgent investigation. Their bi-mode trains are slower and less powerful than the diesel 125s they are to replace. They weigh much more and fewer passengers get a window view. This is what happens when experienced railway experts are ignored and civil servants, lawyers, accountants and politicians try to run a railway.