SCOTLAND’S most delayed train has been revealed – and it’s a rush-hour service through the country’s largest city.
Frustrated passengers on the 4.22pm service from Cumbernauld to Dalmuir end up arriving late on nearly three out of every five days.
The east-west service, which passes through Glasgow at peak time, tops the chart for punctuality problems and regularly arrives more than five minutes after schedule.
By contrast, early risers on the 6.37am from Edinburgh to Glenrothes are rarely held up – only once every three months.
The varying fortunes were revealed by ScotRail Alliance, the country’s main train operator, and track owner Network Rail.
They show that Glasgow is a hotspot for late services, with the top five passing through the major city.
So far this year, the 4.22pm train reached its destination more than five minutes late 58% of the time.
It was closely followed by a train on the same route – the 5.22pm which was late on 54% of days.
Coming in third was the 5.56pm from Airdrie to Balloch, beside Loch Lomond, which also crosses Glasgow city centre.
The 6.40pm from Glasgow Central to Lanark was late 49% of the time, with the 7.56am Airdrie to Balloch train holding the same percentage.
Punctual
On the other side of the Central Belt, the extremely punctual Glenrothes train reflects the vast improvements in Edinburgh’s timekeeping over the past decade.
The train, handy for those needing to be in Kirkcaldy by 7:30am, was late on only 1.2% of days.
Commuters on the line between Glasgow Central and Neilston in East Renfrewshire were nearly as well served, with the 8.01am, 5.03pm and 5.17pm trains late only 1.4% of the time.
ScotRail Alliance manager Phil Verster has said significantly cutting delays is a priority, and has pledged to target poor-performing lines.
Among further improvements, Alliance has said it will now have a strictly focus on punctuality, with trains arriving more than one minute behind schedule classed as being late.
But watchdog Transport Focus said much improvement was still needed.
Passenger manager Robert Samson said: “The majority of passengers in Scotland tell us they are satisfied with their overall train service.
“However, there are still far too many services that passengers can’t rely on.
“Network Rail and ScotRail will have to work better together and redouble their efforts to ensure good and consistent performances across Scotland.”
The Alliance said nine in ten ScotRail services arrived within five minutes of time.
A spokesman said: “At peak times, even small delays to trains can have significant knock-on effects on later services.
“As a result of carrying more passengers and running more trains than ever, the network is more congested.
“We constantly review how we can improve services.”
