2. Performance analysis

The purpose of this section is to provide a detailed analysis of the performance of the organisation in 2025-26.

Action: We supported delivery of concessionary travel and the National Concessionary Travel Schemes for those groups who currently benefit, carrying out further policy development to consider better targeting of public funds towards supporting access to public transport for those who need it most.

Action: As of 1 March 2026, over 289 million journeys had been made through Scotland’s free bus travel scheme for under‑22s, introduced four years ago. More than 80% of eligible young people now hold a National or Young Scot Entitlement Card.

Action: The Scotland-wide pilot launched on 1 December 2025. During the pilot between 1 December 2025 and 31 March 2026, over 3,900 National Entitlement Cards were issued to people seeking asylum and over 332,000 journeys were made.

Action: We introduced a £2 bus fare cap pilot in the ZetTrans (Shetland Islands) and HITRANS (Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Orkney, Highland, Moray and most of the Argyll and Bute area) regions, rolled out on a phased basis in early 2026.

Action: We are advancing integrated smart ticketing, guided by the Advisory Board’s recommendations, new legislation, and our 2024 strategy’s national delivery roadmap.

Action: Phased improvements to the Traveline Scotland website and app included accessibility enhancements, live vehicle tracking, a next generation data system for journey planning and disruption management, and alighting alerts for passengers.

Action: In November 2025, the Scottish Government published the draft Climate Change Plan which includes 28 actions for the transport sector to support meeting Scotland’s new statutory carbon budgets.

Action: In June 2025, a renewed policy statement was published jointly with COSLA on reducing car use in Scotland, setting out the key next steps. A new target was set and a Regulatory Check on local road user charging powers within the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 was commenced. This is included in the Climate Change Plan published on 24 March 2026.

Action: Analysis of the Transport Just Transition Plan consultation was published on 30 January 2026. This highlighted that the final Plan should be more action-focused, that there needs to be greater consideration of the needs of vulnerable groups and those living in rural areas, and that improvements are needed to public transport to make it a viable and accessible option for all.

Action: £445,000 funding was awarded in 2025-26 to nine projects supporting skills development for HDV decarbonisation and transition workforce challenges. Projects include improving diversity in the workforce, addressing training requirements for Zero Emission HDV maintenance and promoting zero emission transport careers in schools. Project leads include the Higher and Further Education sector, Regional Transport Partnerships and private organisations. 

The Rural and Island Infrastructure Fund launched on 27 August 2025 and closed in January 2026. The full £4.5 million budget has been allocated with funding going to 138 projects, which will see 266 charge points installed across 151 sites by 31 March 2026.

Action: Pilot scheme launched on 28 August 2025 aimed at funding the installation of charging solutions in East Lothian, Renfrewshire and Perth and Kinross, with other local authorities expressing an interest to take part. Grants of up to £3,500 per household for solutions such as pavement gulley technology or pop-up bollards. The pilot scheme received 17 applications and £24,000 was offered in grants.

Action: £3.4 million was awarded to increase the shift of freight from road to rail or water through the Freight Facilities Grant in 2025-26.

Action: The Infrastructure Strategy was launched for consultation in January 2026 alongside the Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline, which sets out the Scottish Government's planned programme of major capital investment, including transport. The transport projects included in the pipeline are aligned with the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) and wider government investment priorities, supporting a coordinated and long-term approach to infrastructure planning and delivery.

Action: The Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS3) contract was awarded directly to CalMac Ferries Ltd, coming into effect on 1 October 2025, following conclusion that the award met the requirements of the in-house (Teckal-compliant) exemption under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Both the MV Glen Sannox and MV Isle of Islay were delivered and are deployed on the CHFS network. MV Glen Sannox serves Isle of Arran connections but has also provided network resilience cover, including Oban-Barra connections. MV Isle of Islay will provide increased capacity connections to Islay and Jura (alongside services to Colonsay).

Action: Business cases for infrastructure works at major ports were progressed. In 2025, the infrastructure upgrade works at Canna port and Uig harbour (terminal building) were completed.

Ownership of Ardrossan Harbour was secured through a shareholder directive (a formal instruction issued on behalf of Transport Scotland on behalf of Scottish Ministers) issued to CMAL to complete the acquisition from Peel Ports. This important milestone supports the long-term redevelopment of Ardrossan as the principal mainland port serving Arran and provides a platform for future investment in ferry infrastructure and services. The acquisition was supported by a Written Authority from Scottish Ministers following an Accountable Officer assessment.

Initial activity has focused on ensuring the harbour remains safe and operational, with CMAL meeting the ongoing costs associated with ownership, including security and site management. Further investment will be required once redevelopment plans are agreed and approved. As owner of the site, CMAL will be responsible for delivering future redevelopment activities.

Action: Dualling of the A9 was progressed, with construction ongoing on the Tomatin to Moy, and Tay Crossing to Ballinluig contracts, and continued procurement for the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie project.

The 2026 Delivery Plan was published which sets out the timeline for the remaining projects yet to commence procurement. The consultation process for the procurement of a £1.94 billion Framework Agreement was also launched during 2025-26. The Framework Agreement is intended to be used to deliver the remaining five contracts.

The publication of the draft Orders for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section on 30 May 2025 was an important step forward for the project. These draft Orders set out the legal powers needed to deliver the scheme and form part of the formal approval process. Since then, work has continued to secure the approvals needed to allow the project to move forward.

Action: The Budget and Spending Review statement on 13 January 2026 confirmed the A9 Dualling programme will be delivered using capital funded contracts. Updated financial modelling concluded that Mutual Investment Model contracts would prove poorer commercial value for money than capital funding.

Action: Following detailed consultation and consideration, the Scottish Government confirmed on 3 February 2026 that it remains fully committed to dualling the A96 with a phased approach to dualling being its response to the Corridor Review. Alongside this, the statutory processes to acquire the land necessary for dualling the A96 between Inverness and Nairn, including the Nairn Bypass, and the adjacent A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton link road was completed successfully.

Action: Progress continued on the remaining elements of the medium-term improvements, along with the long-term solution through the statutory authorisation process. In addition, detailed ground investigation site works were completed during the period. These works provided essential information to inform design development of the long-term solution.

Action: Preparation work has continued to be progressed on A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton, A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout, A90/A937 Laurencekirk Junction, A75 Springholm and Crocketford Improvements.

The M8 Woodside Viaducts permanent intervention project has progressed during the period, including delivery of public engagement (February–March 2026) to inform development of the Strategic Business Case and ongoing appraisal of options.

Action: During 2025-26, approximately 500 km of trunk road carriageways were strengthened or resurfaced, helping to maintain the condition and resilience of Scotland's trunk road network. In addition, around 1,839 km of road markings were renewed, over 9,000 potholes repaired, and almost 100,000 road studs replaced. Significant investment was also made in footways, safety barriers, drainage systems and other critical road assets, supporting the safe and reliable operation of the network for road users.

Action: Hairmyres rail station opened on 18 May 2025, and the re-built East Kilbride Station opened on 20 August 2025 and passenger electric services commenced on 14 December 2025.

Action: The Intercity Replacement Programme was approved and the contract was awarded in March 2026. The procurement process for financing options for a new suburban train fleet commenced on 27 February 2026.

Action: Outcomes flowing from the National Speed Management Review are being delivered; work is underway to increase speed limits on single carriageways from 40 mph to 50 mph, and on dual carriageways from 50 mph to 60 mph for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

On the trunk road network, urban speed reductions have been implemented, including new 20 mph zones, part-time limits, and other measures to support casualty reduction and active travel.

Action: During 2025–26, delivery included the continued rollout of Safe System training and supporting tools for partners, including e-learning resources, alongside the ongoing embedding of the Safe System approach through a range of published guidance and resources. These included:

Action: £10 million was awarded to local authorities in 2025-26 to assist in the rollout of 20 mph speed limits. Twelve local authorities fully completed implementation by March 2026. Many of those local authorities have reported vehicle speed reductions. The most notable single reduction recorded to date was a 7 mph drop in a location in the Highlands, achieved through signage alone.

Action: During 2025-26, Transport Scotland oversaw the delivery and development of its 24/7/365 national control room service, supporting the safe and efficient operation of Scotland’s trunk road network. Key achievements included:

• Replacement of electronic signing at thirty high-priority locations on the Glasgow Motorway Network, improving the reliability and effectiveness of real-time information provided to road users.
• Publishing more than 13,000 updates on the Traffic Scotland X channel to its 388,000 followers helping road users make informed travel decisions and plan more efficient journeys.
• Answering over 1,600 emergency roadside telephone calls, providing assistance and support to customers in need of assistance

Providing Traffic Scotland Radio, delivering regular real-time traffic information on the trunk road network, which was listened to over 760,000 times in 2025/2026.

Action: New alcohol regulations introduced on 2 June 2025 whereby consumption of alcohol is permitted during specified times, with ScotRail able to determine higher risk services where alcohol will not be permitted.