ScotRail’s performance is now even worse under the SNP Government than it was under previous operator Abellio, official data shows.
The beleaguered rail service was brought back into public control by the Nationalists in 2022 after sustained criticism of the previous franchise operator.
However, we can reveal that the official rail performance indicator, known as PPM (Public Performance Measure), has deteriorated this year – and last year – compared with the same period immediately before Abellio was axed.
Meanwhile, passengers – who have repeatedly been reminded of the government’s hopes to switch more people to public transport – are also having to endure ageing trains, some of which are almost 40 years old, on some key routes.
There has also been criticism over ticket prices, including misery for passengers this year with a pilot scheme scrapping peak-time fares ending in September following ‘limited success’.
It emerged yesterday that price comparisons showed it was cheaper to fly from Edinburgh to London than it was to commute from the Scottish capital to Glasgow by train.
The SNP promised a rail service of which Scotland could be proud, and which would help entice more users, as parts of its sustained drive to clamp down on car use.
However, we can reveal that improvement has hit the buffers, with delivery stalling across key performance areas, resulting in a service now even worse in terms of reliability than it was under Dutch-owned Abellio.
Nicola Sturgeon announcing ScotRail’s nationalisation in 2022
The PPM level for the eight months up to November 2021 stood at 91.3 per cent, whereas for the same period up to November this year, it had gone down to 89.8 per cent. It was also around 89.8 per cent for the same period last year.
The figure refers to how many trains arrive ‘within five minutes of their booked time’. This year’s figure, therefore, means that more than one-in-ten of all trains are at least five minutes late.
In addition, the most recent data, for the four weeks up to December 7, show it was down to a dismal 85.6 per cent meaning that one-in-seven trains were late.
Shockingly, the data for this most recent period also revealed that more than HALF of all arrivals were late at 24 out of 83 terminus stations.
At worst performing stations, which included Arbroath, Carnoustie, Girvan and Montrose, at least seven out of ten trains were late. In addition, while new rolling stock has been introduced over the past decade on many lines, others still rely on ageing trains, some of which are now around 40 years old.
They include Sprinter trains and old 318s which were built around 1985.
Critics described the decision to terminate the peak fare cap in September as a ‘hammer blow’ for commuters.
It saw the cost of a rush hour ticket between Edinburgh and Glasgow nearly halved from £28.90 to £14.90 with it increasing to £31.40 after the reduction scheme ended.
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Sue Webber said: ‘SNP-run ScotRail is continuing to leave passengers paying more for worse services. Nicola Sturgeon and SNP ministers promised a bright future for Scotland’s railways but the exact opposite is happening.
‘Hard-pressed passengers are enduring endless delays, cancellations and packed carriages because of the nationalists’ incompetence.
‘They deserve better than this and the onus is on Fiona Hyslop to finally deliver services Scots can count on.’
ScotRail pointed to problems this year with a temporary timetable having to be introduced due to a pay dispute, while they added that new drivers were being recruited, and a new intercity fleet was being introduced to replace old trains on those routes.
Mark Illderton, service delivery director, said: ‘Recent performance hasn’t been at the levels our customers expect and deserve.
‘While much of the disruption has been outwith ScotRail’s control, we’re sorry to customers for the disruption they’ve faced.
‘Having trains running on time is one of the most important factors for people travelling across the country, and we continue to work hard to improve train performance.’
