Excuses over Sleeper train delay slammed
RAIL bosses have been slated for making "absurd" excuses over delays to the launch of new Caledonian Sleeper trains on the Highland mainline.
Serco, which runs the franchise, last week blamed "time-consuming and complex" testing and regulatory processes for the decision to push back the new trains to spring next year. They had been expected to begin operating this autumn, but only 40 of the 75 new carriages have so far arrived in the UK from Spain, where they are being built.
Slamming the delay, Highlands and Islands Green MSP John Finnie, said: "The company should not be surprised at the process for testing and regulating new carriages and its attempt to blame this for the delay is quite frankly absurd.
"Serco only has itself to blame for its failure to deliver, and as usual it will be my constituents in the Highlands who are forced endure the longest wait for improved trains.
"I would encourage the Scottish Government to reflect on its decision to award this contract to such an unscrupulous company and urge them to bring Sleeper services back into public ownership at the earliest opportunity. Our railways should be run in the interest of public service, not private profit."
Serco said it the new trains will first go live on the Lowland line linking the central belt and London, with Highland services to Fort William, Inverness and Aberdeen following by the end of May.
Ryan Flaherty, Serco’s managing director at Caledonian Sleeper, said: "The new sleeper carriages are absolutely superb, and will transform the experience of travelling by train between Scotland and England. We are sorry that we will not be able to launch the service this autumn, and understand that customers who wanted to travel on them in 2018 will be disappointed.
"But with five different accommodation types, as well as on board catering, dining and shower facilities, this is the most complex introduction of new rolling stock ever undertaken in the UK, and we are determined to get it right."
Passengers already booked on a Lowland service on or after October 28 will be offered a full refund or opportunity to re-book if they no longer wish to travel. Those still travelling will be refunded the difference.
ScotRail has announced improvements to trains between Inverness and Elgin as part of nationwide changes to its upcoming timetables.
From December 9 there will be nine extra services between the Highland capital and Moray town, increasing the number of trains stopping at Nairn, Forres and Elgin from 25 to 34. This will provide an extra 1500 seats each day – boosting capacity by 60 per cent.
The changes come as ScotRail prepares to introduced refurbished 125 InterCity trains on the Aberdeen-Inverness line.
