“Shocking” new figures reveal that ScotRail have shelled out almost £2million on replacement buses since the SNP nationalised it in 2022.
Data obtained by the Scottish Conservatives reveals that since April 2022, the publicly-owned rail company spent £1.6 million running pre-planned rail replacement buses on several major ScotRail routes to compensate for their temporary timetable.
An additional £134,000 was spent on running emergency bus services when trains were cancelled or unable to run due to technical issues.
Shadow transport secretary Sue Webber said the outlay on replacement buses highlighted how poor a deal train users and taxpayers alike were getting from the SNP’s botched nationalisation of ScotRail.
The figures come hot on the heels of transport secretary Fiona Hyslop reintroducing peak fares, almost doubling the price of tickets for those travelling at rush hour on some routes.
Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for transport Sue Webber MSP said: “The shocking bill for replacement buses highlights what a shoddy deal train users and taxpayers are receiving from the SNP’s botched nationalisation of ScotRail.
“Things have got worse, not better, since SNP ministers got their mitts on ScotRail.
“Around 6,000 ScotRail journeys have been cancelled since April alone, alongside the reduced timetable which caused nothing but misery for commuters and goes against everything we were promised nationalisation would be.
“Commuters are being let down by an unreliable service, and now they’re being asked to pay far more for the privilege with the return of peak fares.
“The SNP claim they want to get people out of their cars and on to public transport, but common sense tells you this shambles is likely to do the opposite.
“The SNP and other socialist parties at Holyrood believe expanding the size of the state is always a solution, but we know taxpayers always end up paying the price for this agenda.
“Nationalist ministers must urgently change their approach and prioritise delivering a reliable and affordable train service for passengers.”
Notes to editors
ScotRail spent £1,612,477.48 on pre-planned bus services in 2022-23 and 2023-24. This includes £241,089.37 on services from Edinburgh and Dundee to Perth, and £595,409.19 on services between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street to Aberdeen. (Scottish Conservative FOI, 9 September 2024, available on request).
ScotRail spent £134,788.72 on emergency bus services in 2022-23 and 2023-24. This includes £103,301.41 on emergency replacement business from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban, and £20,327.32 on services between Glasgow Queen Street and Fort William. (Scottish Conservative FOI, 9 September 2024, available on request).
ScotRail came into public ownership under the Scottish Government on 1 April 2022. Jenny Gilruth, the then Minister for Transport, said when the announcement was made that the nationalised service would be “affordable, sustainable and customer focused.” (BBC News, 9 February 2022, link).
The SNP reintroduced peak fares across ScotRail trains at the end of September. The Scottish Government confirmed that the pilot would end on the 27th of September 2024. (Transport Scotland, 20 August 2024, link).
Fiona Hyslop admitted the SNP decision to re-introduce peak fares will cost hard working Scots ‘thousands of pounds’. Fiona Hyslop said: ‘The pilot will have been welcome in saving many passengers hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds during the cost-of-living crisis but this level of subsidy cannot continue in the current financial climate on that measure alone.’ (BBC News, 20 August 2024, link).
Almost 6,000 trains have been cancelled by ScotRail since April 2024. Scottish Conservative research has revealed that that between April and July 2024, 5,774 ScotRail trains were either fully or partially cancelled. (STV News, 25 August 2024, link).