RAIL passengers have benefited from the best four-week period of performance since September 2018, with more than 90 per cent of trains running on time, it has been indicated.

This follows severe problems earlier in the year with the Fife Circle linking Cardenden and Edinburgh, suffering from cancellations and late arrivals.

Stats released this week show that across Scotland, 90.7 per cent of ScotRail trains met the rail industry standard public performance measure (PPM), arriving at their destination within 4 minutes and 59 seconds of their timetabled arrival time, having called at all scheduled stations.

There were improvements for customers on routes all over the country during the period (June 23 – July 20), and the moving annual average (MAA) – the average performance for the year – also increased for the second consecutive period to 87.7 per cent.

ScotRail say that the successful introduction of the new timetable in May continues to ensure significantly fewer cancellations and improved capacity every day, particularly in the East of the country, including Fife and the Borders, with 99.8 per cent of the planned number of seats delivered in the period.

The £475 million Abellio investment in new and upgraded trains, and Network Rail Scotland investment in infrastructure, is helping to deliver more than 2,400 trains every weekday, as Scotland’s Railway continues to grow.

Alex Hynes, Managing Director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “This latest period of performance is another sign of the fantastic progress we are making in delivering for our customers, and all across the country there are improvements thanks to the hard work of everyone on Scotland’s Railway.

“The unprecedented investment in upgrading the infrastructure, and introducing new and upgraded trains, is delivering a consistent level of performance that’s providing our customers with the service they expect and deserve.”