New figures published by the ScotRail Alliance show an 84 per cent reduction in trains missing a scheduled stop.
In the four weeks to 10 November, only 118 ScotRail trains from a total of 58,510 scheduled services missed stops. In the same period last year 844 services missed stops.
ScotRail pledged to suspend the use of the practice known as skip stopping, except as a last resort, in March following customer feedback and recommendations from the Donovan report.
In December, and over the next 12 months, ScotRail will implement improvements to its timetable. These changes will ultimately deliver faster journeys, more seats and better services.
The introduction of high-speed trains and brand-new Hitachi class 385 electric trains, as well as major infrastructure improvements like the electrification of the Stirling-Dunblane-Alloa route will enable the delivery of the enhanced timetable.
Across Scotland, 80.5 per cent of trains met the rail industry standard public performance measure, arriving at their destination within 4 minutes and 59 seconds of their timetabled arrival time, having called at all scheduled stations. This means the moving annual average stands at 87.3 per cent.
The biggest five incidents that impacted ScotRail’s performance in period 8 (14 October to 10 November) were infrastructure related. The incidents were:
- Emergency speed restrictions at Corkerhill – October 16
- Signalling issues at Haymarket – 2 November
- A fault on the line at Dalmuir – 23 October
- Signal fault at Edinburgh Waverley – 17 October
- Engineering vehicle breaking down near Cowlairs – 23 October
ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes said:
“Everyone at the ScotRail Alliance is working flat out to deliver the best railway Scotland has ever had, and I’m confident that we will do that.
“At the heart of our work is providing the best service for our customers. Earlier this year we took the decision to suspend skip stopping, except as a last resort.
“That decision was welcomed by our customers and these new figures reinforce that commitment.
“The performance of the infrastructure hasn’t been good enough in recent months and I am sorry to customers for the impact this has had on them. We are doing everything we can to deliver the more punctual service that our customers deserve.”
Visit Network Rail to find an explanation on how signals and points failures cause delays: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-rai…