Question reference: S6W-27052
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 25 April 2024
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Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 May 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of rail passenger numbers, and what impact this has had on progress of recommendation (a) 15, (b) 16 and (c) 17 of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
Answer
ScotRail, in public ownership, regularly monitors passenger numbers which enables it to deliver services which respond to the needs of people of Scotland.
Since ScotRail moved into public sector, we have added over 200 additional services each weekday, offering seven per cent more seats. Passenger numbers have increased by 75% from 46.7 million in 2021-22 to around 82 million in 2023-24.
In respect of STPR2, Transport Scotland’s programme of works continues to be reviewed against priorities in the context of available funding. This ensures Transport Scotland can deliver the right projects at the right time as we seek to progress our rolling programme of decarbonisation, whilst also delivering rail passenger and freight services that meet user expectations.