Extract from Scottish Parliament Topical Question Time: Scotrail Stop-skipping - Jan 30

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on concerns regarding the occurrence of stop-skipping by Scotrail. (S5T-00908)

I completely understand the frustration that stop-skipping can cause for the customer experience. I fully expect the performance issues to be addressed immediately, and I regularly speak with Alex Hynes, the managing director of the Scotrail Alliance, to stress that very point.

In an answer to a question last week from Alex Rowley, I mentioned that Alex Hynes has instigated an independent review as part of Scotrail's recovery measures, which I very much welcome. The review, which is under way, will look at steps to recover performance and aim to reduce stop-skipping. Once the findings are published, I will of course look at the recommended steps for improvement and how that information is made publicly available.

The practice, of course, is undeniably and understandably unpopular. My officials at Transport Scotland will therefore continue to monitor and challenge Scotrail on it to ensure that it is minimised.

Just to put the matter in some context, I add that I am sure that the member would like to note that, over the past year, about 0.78 per cent of services ran stop-skipping, against the circa 763,000 services that were booked. That means that 99.22 per cent of services did not skip their stops.

Can the minister advise me now or afterwards how many stop-skippings were due to breakdowns on the network or breakdowns of other rail providers? Given that the matter is not all under Scotrail's control, although I am not excusing it, is there not an argument for integrating the network and Scotrail?

The member raises a good point. I do not have the exact figures to hand, but I will look them out with my officials. Time and again, independent reports such as the report by the Reform Scotland think tank have shown that 54 per cent, or the majority, of delays are down to Network Rail and the infrastructure. Of course, Network Rail is still a reclassified body under the United Kingdom Government's Department for Transport and is not within the devolved control of this Parliament or indeed this Government. However the member is right that that is not an acceptable excuse. Scotrail and the ScotrailAlliance must work on minimising stop-skipping.

To put the issue in context, there were significant improvements on stop-skipping in the last railway year, as Scotrail managed to get the figure down to 0.4 per cent of services. That figure has increased because of the poor autumn and winter performance. When the independent review has been conducted, I will of course share the recommendations with members around the chamber in an appropriate way.

I note what the minister says about Network Rail's part in this. However, I was a victim of unannounced stop-skipping on the Borders railway, when the train whizzed past Newtongrange, where my car was, so I had to go on to Shawfair and take the next train south. Had I been picking up children, it would have been a different matter from me just being very cross. Will the minister seek to end this practice, because the impact on individuals on the train—elderly people, people who have children to pick up, people with job interviews—can be substantial? They can lose 45 minutes if they have to go to another station and take a train back.

The member's example is one that is experienced too often by people on the railways. I am not dismissing that concern in the slightest. In some instances, the Scotrail Alliance feels that stop-skipping has to take place because the infrastructure might fail or there might be a points, signal or rolling-stock failure. Therefore, in order for the entire network not to be out of kilter, a train might have to skip a stop. What is clearly unacceptable, and what happens far too often, is the failure in communication around that. People can already be on the train and then have their stop skipped. If people knew in advance that their train was not going to stop at X, Y or Z station, they could perhaps plan their journey ahead.

There is clearly a failure in communication as well as the performance not being good enough, but I give the member the absolute assurance that, as part of the independent review that is being taken forward by Nick Donovan, the Scotrail Alliance is considering how to minimise the practice.

Another six members have questions on this issue, which is clearly of some interest. If the minister can make his replies as brief as possible, we will see how many questions we can get through, although I do not think that we will get through them all.

Around 20 trains a day in Scotland miss their stops, which causes great inconvenience to those on the trains who are unable to get off, and to those who are waiting at stations. What conversations is the minister having with Scotrail to ensure that the practice is minimised? Will he ensure that Scotrail gives passengers more foresight that a station will be skipped and better information on alternatives? How are passengers who are affected by the practice adequately compensated for any inconvenience, or cost incurred, as a result of their stop being missed?

I hope that I answered Jamie Greene's questions in my reply to Christine Grahame, but I emphasise that I will reiterate the member's point to Alex Hynes. That will be part of the independent review. Once the review recommendations come my way, I will certainly look at them and have a discussion with Jamie Greene about them.

Jamie Greene is absolutely right to highlight the point around communication, as that is such a frustration for passengers. Passengers whom I have spoken to completely understand that things can go wrong on any rail network—whether that involves infrastructure or rolling stock—but they are not prepared to accept the lack of communication in 2018, in the 21st century, when we have smartphone technology. The message should be getting out to passengers.

The member mentioned that 20 services a day were affected. To put that in context, that is about 0.8 per cent of services, so the vast majority still run to the stations that they are meant to. Notwithstanding that, the member's points are well made.

The minister knows that passengers on Scotrail services to Dumbarton, Helensburgh and Balloch are frequently affected by station-skipping, and that scheduled services often whizz past Cardross and Dumbarton Central stations without stopping, which leaves passengers stranded. Even the promise to abolish station-skipping during rush hour has been broken. I point out to the minister, as gently as I can, that 0.8 per cent might sound small, but that is 64,000 journeys, and it feels like most of them are happening in my patch. Will the minister ensure that statistics are published for each line and end the practice of station-skipping at key stations, such as Dumbarton Central and Cardross?

I am not sure about the figures that Jackie Baillie quoted, but I certainly have not been dismissive—I hope that that was clear in the tone of all my responses. I have said that I find the practice unacceptable.I have tried to give some context about why stop-skipping might sometimes be necessary, to ensure that the network is not out of kilter for the rest of the day, but I agree with the member that the figures are too high.

When I spoke to Alex Hynes, he mentioned that he would continue to be in dialogue with Jackie Baillie, and I think that another meeting with her has been arranged—if not, I think that a meeting will be coming her way. I know that stop-skipping will be on the agenda.

I want to correct the record, because the member was wrong when she referred to the promise that was made. It was never said that stop-skipping during peak time would be abolished; it was said that the practice would be minimised. However, that has not happened, and we must ensure that we get back to a position in which stop-skipping is minimised. Scotrail achieved that in the spring and summer of 2017, but autumn and winter performance has not been where we wanted it to be.

I hope that the member understands that I am not dismissing passengers' very real frustrations. As soon as the independent review has been conducted, I hope that we can get Scotrail back on the trajectory of improving performance.

Given that stop-skipping is scored less harshly than a late arrival, does the minister accept that the franchise agreement encourages the practice?

No, I do not, because it still counts towards a public performance measure failure. The member's colleague Mark Ruskell made the same point to me and I said that I would reflect on it when it comes to future franchises and consideration of how we can disincentivise stop-skipping. Stop-skipping counts as a PPM failure—that is important—and Scotrail is judged on its PPM statistics.

Will the minister look into the situation in my constituency, where scheduled trains are terminating at Hamilton Central and not continuing to the halt at Larkhall via Chatelherault and Merryton? It is not quite station-skipping; it is just missing out the final three stations, but it is an all-too-regular occurrence, which has left many of my constituents stranded, out of pocket and incredibly upset, especially if they have annual season tickets.

Yes, I will look into the situation and I will mention it to Alex Hynes, the MD of the Scotrail Alliance. I will encourage him to meet the member. She is absolutely right, it is a source of frustration if a train does not stop at the final three stops when it was expected to do so. I accept and do not minimise or dismiss the concern.

I will arrange for Alex Hynes to speak to the member about the issue. I know that she has had good engagement with him about other issues, including antisocial behaviour at Hamilton Central.

Given that the performance data on stop-skipping and overcrowding, and even the targets towards which Scotrail works, are not routinely published, does the minister accept that it is time for Scotrail and the Government to come clean to the travelling public and publish the statistics on stop-skipping on a routine basis, so that we can properly assess performance?

I do not accept Colin Smyth's characterisation. A plethora of statistics are published routinely—sometimes members need to be pointed in the right direction in that regard, and I will reflect on that.

I am not dismissing the member's concern. However, we are very up front with our figures, which is why I have been able to give him figures period by period. I can break down the figures by line and service, as well, and I am more than happy to do so, because we have nothing to hide, in that we want to see Scotrail improve and are working hand in hand with Scotrail on that. When the independent review is published, I will be more than happy to speak to Colin Smyth, in his new role overseeing transport issues for the Labour Party, about the recommendations.

I have some sympathy for people who are concerned about stop-skipping, given that Coatbridge Sunnyside and Coatbridge Central have been subject to the practice in recent weeks, to the annoyance of many commuters.

Does the minister agree that last year's Treasury announcement that rail funding for Scotland will be £600 million less than is needed over the five years from 2019 is a major factor and risks doing serious damage to rail projects, performance and infrastructure?

Yes. The member makes a good point. Any shortfall in funding will impact on infrastructure and the maintenance of the railway. We will continue to have a dialogue with the United Kingdom Government about that.

Notwithstanding that, there is clearly an imperative for Scotrail to improve its performance and to reduce the practice of skipping stops, and I know that Alex Hynes takes that seriously. We will continue to focus on the issue while having conversations with the UK Government on what is a very damaging settlement for Scotland's railways.