Portfolio: Transport
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SESTRAN SuRVEY SHOWS NEW ALLOA
STATION IS AN OuTSTANDINg SuCCESS
RAIL
SEStran has found that passenger FRANCHISE
S
o, the results are in. The Audit Scot- that criteria were established to deter-
land report into the First ScotRail mine whether the extension should be
numbers at Alloa station have exceeded
passenger rail franchise, much awaited awarded, however, no formal record was
expectations. A survey of patronage since the decision earlier this year to ex- made of the criteria being approved. It
during the first twelve weeks shows tend the franchise for three years, found also found that Transport Scotland’s reg-
that the figure for the year may exceed
that Transport Scotland has in place ef- ister of interests indicates that the director
400,000 – more than double the
fective arrangements for monitoring and of Finance and Corporate Services, Guy
predicted usage of 155,000.
managing First ScotRail’s delivery of Houston, holds shares and share options
RESEARCH FINDS REDuCINg FARES
passenger rail services in Scotland. in FirstGroup, and the minutes of meet-
COuLD REDuCE CARBON EmISSIONS
However, the report highlighted that ings do not record if he declared an inter-
High fares are pricing people off there is scope to take more account of
est or removed himself from discussions
public transport and increasing both passengers’ concerns and wider about the franchise extension. Houston
carbon emissions, according to new
government priorities in the targets and has since resigned.
research published by Campaign for
measures that Transport Scotland uses, The report also found that Transport
Better Transport. The research shows
and information about First ScotRail’s Scotland did not provide the Minister for
that reducing bus and rail fares and
increasing motoring and aviation
performance could be more readily Transport, Infrastructure and Climate
taxes could cut carbon emissions from
available to passengers. Change with a fully documented business
transport by 13 per cent by 2025.
Auditor General for Scotland, Rob- case, taking the view that presentations to
ert Black, said: “Transport Scotland has the minister were more appropriate. The
SuRVEY ON TRANSPORT PuBLISHED
managed the franchise contract effec- presentations were based on the option
The British Chambers of Commerce
tively and First ScotRail has run services appraisal work. It was this revelation that
has published a survey detailing
well since taking over in 2004. Delays Iain Gray prioritised at First Minister’s
business views on UK transport issues.
Responding to the publication, Liz
are down, passenger numbers and sat- Questions on December 4. He said: “The
Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish
isfaction are up, and the quality of ser- contract was extended with no consulta-
Chambers of Commerce, said that over
vice, both on trains and at stations, has tion, no assessment criteria and—most
70 per cent of Scottish businesses improved.” damning of all—no business case. That is
believe that the current state of the
It was the report’s comment on the public spending by PowerPoint. Perhaps
country’s transport infrastructure does
extension which was most keenly antici- the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure
not fully meet their business needs, with
pated, and the report stated that some and Climate Change did not feel the need
over half of firms reporting that road
congestion is a significant problem.
aspects of the process could have been for a business case, but did the Cabinet
better managed. Black said: “Transport Secretary for Finance and Sustainable
ENHANCED BuS SERVICE
Scotland secured a guaranteed invest- Growth not ask to see one? Did the First
SPT and member councils have funded ment of £73.1m from First ScotRail as Minister not ask to see a business case?
improvements to the X22 bus service be-
part of the franchise extension, and they Did no one in the Cabinet ask what the
tween Greenock and Clydebank, which
have put in place more demanding tar- business case was?” First Minister Alex
is now running daily with improved
gets for aspects of service performance. Salmond responded that: “As far as I
frequency and on an expanded route.
The service improvements have
However, there are some lessons to learn understand his questions, Iain Gray is not
been financed through a grant from the
for managing the contracting process in challenging the real benefits that Audit
Network Enhancement Scheme, which is
relation to future franchises.” Scotland identified the three-year exten-
jointly funded by SPT and the councils. The report found that by April 2006, sion will bring in the way of investment in
The £230,000 funding allocation to
key aspects of the original franchise and improvements to passenger services”
Greenock-based Scottish Travel Ltd will
contract were no longer fit for purpose, – the £73.1m.
run over three years.
as First ScotRail was outstripping con- It is this money that the debate on
tractual performance requirements the franchise extension will now focus
EAST AYRSHIRE COmmuTERS gAIN
FROm RAIL ENHANCEmENTS
and 80 per cent of additional revenue on. On November 30, two days after
More seats and more trains are amongst
achieved was being returned to the the Audit Scotland report was pub-
the benefits rail passengers in south-west Scottish Government, and Transport lished, Transport Scotland’s consulta-
Scotland will gain from a £28.5m package
Scotland was concerned this could dis- tion on how to spend that extra money
of rail infrastructure enhancements,
courage further service growth and closed. It aimed to “seek the views of key
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson
improvements. stakeholders on how the priced options
has announced. Network Rail is already
While the report found Transport announced in the ScotRail franchise
carrying out extensive engineering works,
on behalf of Transport Scotland, to double
Scotland’s appraisal process was rigorous extension can be improved, how best
a stretch of existing track to create a new
and has resulted in a guaranteed £73.1m they should be implemented and how the
second line between Stewarton and investment by First ScotRail, the original £70m secured for further services should
Lugton. This will reduce journey times by franchise contract did not specify the con- be spent.” Transport Scotland said: “We
up to six minutes and give added benefits
ditions under which an extension should aim to issue a report on this consultation
by speeding up connections across south-
be considered, or the criteria to be used process in January 2009”, ensuring this
west Scotland, to Carlisle and onto all
to decide whether an extension might be issue will continue to generate heat for
parts of England.
appropriate. Transport Scotland reports some time yet. HM
44
| 15 December 2008 | Holyrood magazine |
www.holyrood.com |
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