3,472 rush hour trains cancelled in 2023

Scottish Liberal Democrat connectivity spokesperson Beatrice Wishart MSP has today revealed that more than 3,400 rush hour morning trains were cancelled in 2023 alone, as she urged the SNP government to get serious about improving Scotland’s rail network.  

The data, obtained through a freedom of information request by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, shows the total number of trains between 6am and 9am that have been either fully or partly cancelled last year.

In 2023:

• 2,136 trains were fully cancelled, while 1,336 trains were partly cancelled;
• This is an average of 10 trains cancelled every day;
• The most cancelled service was the 08:45 train from Inverurie to Aberdeen, with passengers facing a total of 29 cancellations;  
• The 08:41 train from Edinburgh to Helensburgh saw the highest number of part cancellations, with a total of 21 cancellations.

It comes as ScotRail introduced a new reduced timetable which means that only around 50% of services are running on Sundays. ScotRail workers have also been balloted for strike action, leaving open the possibility of further cancellations to services in September.

Ms Wishart said:

“Under this SNP Government, passengers are having to roll the dice every day, uncertain as to whether they will get to their final destinations in time, or even at all.

“ScotRail has been in public hands for more than two years. Ministers have hiked rail fares by 8.7% and left passengers to put up with endless disruption.

“If we are to tempt people out of private cars, they need a reliable and frequent rail service. The SNP government must get serious about ensuring all services are up and running and that trains are arriving on time.  

“Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see new options for flexible season tickets as well as the government exploring new lines, especially in areas which suffer from poor transport links.”