What we have delivered

Since publication, the Scottish Government has delivered on a multiple key projects that make our transport system more accessible, available and affordable through the delivery of the four strategic priorities.

Aligned with the Strategy and ensuring public funds deliver best value for money on key infrastructure projects, in December 2022 we published the final summary report on the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) which lays out our priorities for investment through 45 recommendations, of which 37 are already underway.

The vast majority of Transport Scotland’s activities and finances are focused on maintaining and operating our existing transport system that we all use every day, whether it be to travel to work, visit family and friends, access services, run our businesses or get our goods delivered. During the pandemic, the Scottish Government put in place financial support packages to help bus operators maintain and increase essential services as we moved through the COVID-19 Route Map, as well as support for ScotRail services and support for light rail in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

With over two million people - including all children and young people under 22, eligible disabled people and everyone aged 60 and over – eligible to benefit from free bus travel, Scotland has the most comprehensive concessionary travel scheme in the UK. As of end October 2023, over 98 million journeys have been made through the Young Persons Free Bus Travel scheme since its launch in January 2022 and we are currently undertaking an evaluation of the scheme.

Following careful consideration, in 2022 we transferred ScotRail into public ownership and, in June 2023, Caledonian Sleeper services were brought into public control. This has been a monumental change behind the scenes, including all staff transferred over to ScotRail Holdings, however services have been business as usual for day-to-day commuters and leisure travellers. Seizing on the opportunities to improve affordability, we have already been able to institute savings through trials including the Scotrail Peak Fares Removal Pilot running between October 2023 and March 2024. 

Taking each of the Strategy’s priorities in turn, we have undertaken and delivered a number of actions:

To reduce inequalities, we have:

• expanded our concessionary bus travel offer with the introduction of free bus travel for young people aged under 22 and free bus travel for people seeking asylum in Scotland;
• held ticket prices on the Northern Isles and Clyde & Hebrides ferry networks at current levels, from October 2023 until the end of March 2024, to help people and businesses from Scotland’s remote rural and island communities;
• announced four free single ferry journeys per year for young island residents to the mainland;
• introduced the Scotrail Peak Fares Removal Pilot between October 2023 and March 2024;
• introduced the Network Support Grant to support commercial and community bus services;
• improved accessibility at many of our railway stations including Croy and Johnstone through the provision of step-free access;
• funded various initiatives to help provide free and affordable bikes to people who need them, including the pilot for the free bikes scheme for school children, Cycling UK’s Access Bikes Project, the Shifting Gears Project, the Wee Bikes Programme; and to Scottish Cycling with grant funding to deliver the Rock Up and Ride

To take climate action, we have:

• launched the second round of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB2) to support change in the bus market in favour of zero-emission technologies;
• progressed our rolling programme of railway electrification, including the East Kilbride Enhancement Project and Barrhead route electrification and station improvement works;
• published our discussion paper to support engagement on a just transition for the transport sector;
• launched the Active Travel Transformation Fund to provide £20 million directly to Local Authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships and National Park Authorities to deliver ambitious, construction-ready active travel infrastructure schemes across Scotland;
• since April 2020, invested over £34 million on the National Cycle Network to connect towns and villages by active travel;
• published the draft route map to achieving a 20% reduction in car kilometres driven in Scotland by 2030;
• provided local authorities with discretionary powers to implement a workplace parking levy;
• published our Vision for Scotland’s public electric vehicle charging network, setting out what an ideal public charging offer for cars and vans would look like across Scotland; together with private sector provision, our public charging network is the most comprehensive in the UK outside of London; and,
• published the Approach to Climate Change Adaptation avnd Resilience which outlines the key climate risks affecting Scotland’s transport system.

To help deliver inclusive economic growth, we have:

• initiated 37 of the 45 recommendations in the Strategic Transport Projects Review for transport investments across Scotland;
• progressed work on the Levenmouth rail project which is due to enter service in Spring 2024,
• completed work on the A77 Maybole bypass;
• opened the new railway station at Inverness Airport in February 2023 as part of our wider £42 million investment in Scotland’s Railway;
• invested over £450 million to date on the A9 dualling project between Inverness and Perth and completed work on the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam section of the A9, improving journey times and safety on the route;
• provided funding to procure four new major vessels for Islay and the Little Minch routes, which are on track for delivery in 2024 and 2025; and,
• established new air services from Scotland to destinations such as Atlanta and Calgary

To improve our health and wellbeing, we have:

• supported local authorities to look at different ways of delivering bus services in their areas through the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019;
• continued the roll out of 20 miles per hour speed limits in built up areas;
• introduced Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in our four largest cities, as well as the LEZ Support Fund for 2023-24 which offers cash incentives and Travel Better credits if non-compliant vehicles are removed from Scotland’s roads;
• invested in active travel behaviour change programmes aimed at encouraging, empowering and inspiring children and young people across Scotland to develop sustainable travel habits from an early age; and,
• invested over £250 million on the Places for Everyone active travel infrastructure programme since April 2020 to deliver a range of sustainable travel projects, including Stockingfield Bridge, the South City Way in Glasgow, the City Centre East West Route in Edinburgh, the Hawick Sustainable Travel Super Highway, the Broughty Ferry Active Travel programme.