By Bill Heaney
Scottish Liberal Democrats have today revealed that more than £130,000 was spent on taxis to replace cancelled or late rail services in the first six months since ScotRail was taken into government hands.
A freedom of information request submitted by Scottish Liberal Democrats to ScotRail revealed that the total amount paid to private taxi and hire vehicle services for replacing a cancelled rail service between April and September 2022 was £137,309.91.
The single most expensive journey was a fare from Wick to Inverness calling at all stops in between. The cost of this was £798.30.
Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Jill Reilly, above, said: “This is an astonishing sum of money for newly nationalised ScotRail to have shelled out in just six months.
“Even worse, it comes hot on the heels of the news that the service has racked up more than £400,000 in payments to rail users for delays.
“This is money that should be available for cutting fares and updating trains, carriages and stations.
“Commuters and rail users need a quality service that they can rely on if we are to tempt people out of private cars. The Scottish Government must work with ScotRail to cut down on their reliance on replacement transport services and deliver the rail service that taxpayers and travellers pay for.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats are committed to delivering a public transport system that works for all communities, for all ages, and for the climate. That’s why we want to see fares cut, new options for two/three-day a week season tickets and for the government to work with councils to explore new lines, particularly in areas where public transport links are poor.”
The total amount paid to private taxi and hire vehicle services for replacing a cancelled rail service broken down by each month from April to September 2022 is outlined below:
The single highest taxi fare was from Wick to Inverness calling at all stops in between. The cost of this was £798.30.
Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling for:
- All peak rail fares to be scrapped for young people
- The railcard discount to be increased to 50% for everyone under 30
- The reversal of the SNP/Green rail fares hike
- Ticketing options to reflect new models of hybrid working with the option for two/three-day a week season tickets
- The government to look at new routes such as Alloa to Dunfermline, Grangemouth, St Andrews, Borders railway to Carlisle, Peterhead, Edinburgh’s Abbeyhill Loop and South Suburban and other lines where local people have lobbied ministers