RAIL passengers are benefiting from more trains running on time, fewer cancellations and more seats, ScotRail has said.
The rail firm committed to a range of improvements as part of an agreement with Transport Scotland in March after complaints of cancellations and overcrowding on services in Fife and the Scottish Borders, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon describing ScotRail’s performance as “unacceptable”.
READ MORE: ScotRail satisfaction at lowest point in fifteen years
Now ScotRail has completed driver and conductor training in the east of the country and says this had a significant impact, with cancellations in the region at their lowest level in a year. And according to the company, 93.25% of trains in Fife met their punctuality target in recent weeks.
The operator has said its improvement plans are on track.
Operations director David Simpson said: “The successful delivery of our remedial plan remains a priority for everyone at ScotRail and I am delighted to see the progress we have made in such a short period of time.
“We put in a lot of work to identify the areas that would have the most impact for our customers and meeting those commitments is improving punctuality, reducing cancellations and providing more seats throughout the country.”
According to ScotRail, of the 19 commitments within the plan, 11 have already been delivered – including the lease of three additional high-speed trains; an additional annual £500,000 investment in for a performance improvement fund; and the recruitment of eight additional Hitachi train technicians.
READ MORE: ScotRail issues apology for poor performance
ScotRail added it had successfully implemented a timetable change and was scheduled to exceed its commitment of hiring an extra 55 drivers and 30 conductors in 2019.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We welcome the positive progress around performance and the ongoing efforts to ensure this continues, particularly around staff recruitment and training.
“There is still work to be done and we will continue to press ScotRail to deliver the high standards passengers expect and deserve.”
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