21 April 2005

SPT unveils highest recorded rail passenger figures

New figures show that 44.86 million passengers were carried on SPT rail services during 2004/05, the highest recorded figure and an increase of 2.87 million passengers on last year. The peak figures come just as changes in legislation could see SPT lose its involvement in the rail network, despite being the engine that has driven the steady increase in passenger numbers.

Councillor Alistair Watson, Chair of SPT, said, "These figures are a testament to SPT's achievements. Rail is immensely important to the west of Scotland. Nowhere else in Britain, except London, do more commuters travel to work by train than in Glasgow.

"It is SPT that has been the driving force behind creating one of the best rail network's in the country and these figures show that passengers will use good public transport when it's provided."

Strathclyde Passenger Transport specifies the timetables, sets the fairs and monitors and develops the rail network in its area. It is also a co-signatory to the rail franchise and played a major role in drawing up the specification for the new franchise signed in October 2004.

This important role is likely to be lost after the Railways Bill was granted Royal Assent on 7 April 2005. The Railways Act removes the right of Passenger Transport Executives to be co-signatories of rail franchises, abolishes the Strategic Rail Authority and devolves responsibility for Scotland's railways from the SRA to the Scottish Ministers.

Under the Transport (Scotland) Bill, currently working its way through the Scottish Parliament, six Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) will be set up across Scotland by 2006. SPT is expected to form the foundations of the west of Scotland RTP. Despite assurances from Transport Minister, Nicol Stephen MSP, about SPT's continued involvement in monitoring and developing the rail network, there is nothing in the Transport (Scotland) Bill that gives RTPs the powers to be involved in delivering rail services.

Cllr Watson said, "The Scottish Executive's own research shows that over the last 10 years over half of the growth in passenger numbers and revenue on the rail network is down to SPT initiatives like: new stations, improved station facilities such as CCTV and lifts, new or refurbished trains, additional services and marketing initiatives.

"Last year we spent some £22 million on new trains to cut overcrowding. We saw the first fruit of the £35 million Larkhall - Milngavie project come on stream with improved services running between Hamilton Central and Anderston. Towards the end of this year we will see the whole Larkhall - Milngavie line operational with four new stations and 71 extra services a day. We are working to deliver CrossRail and the Glasgow Airport rail Link. SPT delivers. These figures prove it."

ends

Notes to editors

There was a steady climb in rail usage over the late 1990s driven by SPT's improvements to the rail network. This steady growth was hit in 2001/02 and 2002/03 by the speed restrictions introduced after the Hatfield Rail Disaster and the emergency timetable introduced to cope with industrial action on the part of train drivers.

Rail patronage - within the SPT area:

1995/96 36.90 million
1996/97 39.25 million
1997/98 40.93 million
1998/99 41.76 million
1999/00 43.07 million
2000/01 43.08 million
2001/02 41.25 million
2002/03 37.58 million
2003/04 41.99 million
2004/05 44.86 million