26.07.13
Concerns raised over state of Scottish infrastructure
Scottish transport minister Keith Brown has called for Network Rail to do more to improve performance on the Scottish network.
Recent performance was “concerning” and needed to be addressed.
Network Rail is implementing contingency measures to minimise the effects of unusually high temperatures, which have created signalling issues, by installing sprinklers and painting sections of track white to reflect heat.
Brown said: “Network Rail is also working with British Transport Police to deal with criminal activity which results in services being affected, and ScotRail to put in place jointly measures to evaluate delays to services to inform and improve future performance. Communications is of course key to keeping the public updated on any impacts and what is being done to address these, and I stressed the need for the industry to keep rail passengers informed at every turn.
“I want to see a rail network that delivers the kind of passenger services they rightly deserve. Only by continuing to demand the very best from our rail industry in Scotland will we realise that ambition, and I want to see Network Rail step up to the plate and deliver for rail passengers in Scotland.”
David Simpson, Network Rail’s route managing director for Scotland, added: “We share the minister’s concerns over the current performance of the network. Scotland is usually one of the strongest parts of the UK railway, with punctuality levels reaching a record 93% last year.
“We are working hard to manage the infrastructure issues we are currently facing and to put in place plans to improve performance. Over the last two months a range of factors – including extreme heat, vandalism to equipment, and, in the last two days, lightning strikes – have contributed to the issues we have faced, but we are confident we can respond positively to the challenge of restoring performance to previous levels.”
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