Greens reveal increase in ScotRail skipping stops
Seven ScotRail trains on average skipped stations in Scotland every day in 2019, according to figures obtained by Scottish Greens Transport Spokesperson John Finnie MSP. The data shows that 2,660 ScotRail trains skipped stations in 2019, an increase of more than 500 on the previous year.
John Finnie MSP said:
“It is extremely disappointing that instances of stop skipping have increased by almost a fifth in a year. Folk rely on our rail services for work, education, and so much more and it is simply unacceptable that this level of inconvenience occurs. It is not unreasonable to expect that your train calls at all the stations advertised. Everyone accepts that delays and cancellations will happen from time to time on a busy network, but this should be minimised.
“Given that stop skipping is only treated as a ‘partial cancellation’ in the franchise agreement, there are times when deliberately bypassing stations could be financially advantageous for the operator. It is vital that the Transport Secretary ensures this arrangement does not continue when the next franchise agreement is drawn up.
“It is particularly important in light of the climate emergency that we encourage more people out of their cars and onto public transport. Increased inconvenience and higher fares are not a combination that would appeal to many, it’s therefore vital that the Scottish Government urgently prioritise investment in improving rail travel in Scotland.”