Transport Scotland to publish ScotRail performance reports quarterly

From today (6 Nov) Transport Scotland will publish quarterly internal audits of ScotRail’s service performance results online.

The Service Quality Incentive Regime (SQUIRE) reports will now be made publicly available from the Transport Scotland website in a move that supports a Scottish Government commitment to make information more accessible and transparent.

SQUIRE aims to drive quality improvements in rail services and facilities; it has a reputation as one of the toughest audit regimes of its kind in the UK and continues to have positive impacts on standards on Scotland’s railways.

The report provides a benchmarking measurement for ScotRail’s service performance. It measures 18 areas of station performance, including ticket offices and shelters and 16 areas of on-train performance, such as seating quality and toilet cleanliness.

ScotRail are issued cash penalties or rewards dependant on performance against a benchmark. In a change to the system, introduced at the start of the Abellio ScotRail franchise, all fines collected by Transport Scotland are now retained for direct reinvestment into the rail network.

Minister for Transport and Islands, Derek Mackay, said:

“Through the SQUIRE programme the Scottish Government is already engaged in one of the most rigorous and effective assessments of any rail franchise in the UK.

“We are pleased to be working with Abellio ScotRail to uphold and improve upon the high standards that we set ourselves by not only running a clean, efficient and safe rail network, but one that also offers unprecedented levels transparency for the consumer.”

The most recent report is available from the Transport Scotland website: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail/scotrail-franchise/performance-and-service-quality