,

Practice & Performance: ScotRail progress

by

Scotland’s railways are undergoing a transformation. John Heaton FCILT assesses the performance of ScotRail’s new traction.

Standing on the concourse of Glasgow Central it is easy to assess how well the service is performing. There are no anxious groups waiting for departure platforms to be announced and arriving commuters march confidently towards their destination.

Set No. 385025 leads 385112 through Linlithgow at speed on May 14 with the 09.00 Glasgow Queen Street-Edinburgh Waverley. Pictures: IAN LOTHIAN (unless stated)

The announcements are routine and free of constant apologies. It is 08.30 on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 – the second day of a new timetable which has inaugurated substantial changes.

Article continues below…
Advert

Monthly Subscription: Enjoy more Railway Magazine reading each month with free delivery to you door, and access to over 100 years in the archive, all for just £5.35 per month.
Click here to subscribe & save

ScotRail operations director David Simpson permits himself a moment of satisfaction as his phone relates the Public Performance Measure (PPM) is standing at 96% in the heart of the morning peak.

To entertain The RM so early in a new timetable is his vote of confidence that the troubled start to the franchise is now over and progress is being made.

A 2+4 HST set exits the Forth Bridge into Dalmeny station on April 29 with power car No. 43168 leading 1B32, the 13.12 Aberdeen-Edinburgh Waverley. The external branding of the sets represents the seven key Scottish cities they will serve when all 26 are in service. 

Wholesale driver migration to other train operating companies such as TransPennine Express, which is expanding from Liverpool to Glasgow via the west coast and Edinburgh via Newcastle, has resulted in massive recruitment and training programmes. 

Article continues below…
Advert

Late provision of rolling stock (witness the production problems of the ‘pocket rocket’ 2+4 HST conversion programme from Wabtec) and the Class 385s’ window curvature ‘phantom signal images’ predicament form but a small selection of the problems affecting reliability in recent months.

The stop-gap Class 365s drafted in to cover for the Class 385s required even more traction training.

The 07.59 from East Kilbride arrives on time at 08.31 to disgorge an astounding number of passengers.

Article continues below…
Advert

It is now rostered for three two-car Class 156s, a diesel vestige among a plethora of electric services and a likely candidate for the next steps in what has so far been a rolling electrification programme.

Mr Simpson’s experience stretches back to management training in mid-1980s British Rail and has recently included route manager with Network Rail Scotland when many of the infrastructure improvement plans, from which ScotRail is now benefiting, were hatched, as well as a spell with Caledonian Sleepers during its planned re-equipment.

Read more and view more images in the July 2019 issue of The RM – on sale now!

Article continues below…
Advert


Advert
Subscribe to The Railway Magazine
Enjoy more of The Railway Magazine reading every month. Click here to subscribe.

Railway Reads

From the history of steam through to 21st century rail transport news, we have titles that cater for all rail enthusiasts. Covering diesels, modelling, steam and modern railways, check out our range of magazines and fantastic subscription offers.