We continue to demand the level of service which customers expect from ScotRail and, while the improvements we have seen this year are welcome, there is more to do. A key to improvement is realising the investments that we are working with ScotRail and Network Rail to deliver. We are seeing many of our major projects come to fruition in 2017‑18. Some highlights include:
■■ the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High route being served by electric trains in the coming months and adding 26% more seats at peak times
■■ Dundee Station redevelopment being completed by early 2018
■■ refurbished high speed trains being introduced into service by ScotRail between the seven Scottish cities from spring 2018
■■ 75 new sleeper coaches being gradually introduced on overnight services to and from London from April 2018 onwards.
We will go further by developing new proposals to continue the reinvigoration of the Scottish rail network and will take forward work on:
■■ our investment strategy for new track and stations for 2019 onwards
■■ introducing hybrid electric trains
■■ further tackling overcrowding
■■ introducing dedicated carriages for cycles and other outdoor sports equipment on rural routes in the north and west
■■ maximising the local benefits of the route between Girvan and Stranraer
■■ service improvements for the line between Inverness and Wick/Thurso
We fundamentally believe, however, that we could do much more if we had stronger levers over the rail network. The rail network in Scotland is already publicly owned – by the UK Government. In the coming year, we will continue to press for the further devolution of Network Rail in Scotland so that it becomes fully accountable to the Scottish people. We will also make full use of new powers provided through the Scotland Act to allow public sector bodies to bid for future Scottish rail franchises. In 2017-18, we will identify a suitable public body to make a robust bid for the next ScotRail franchise contract and confirm the next steps for the preparation of a bid.
