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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 9 July 2025
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Displaying 5973 contributions

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Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scotland’s Railways

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Edward Mountain

Liz, do you want to add anything?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scotland’s Railways

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Edward Mountain

Welcome back. We continue our consideration of Scotland’s railways by hearing from a second panel, which is made up of representatives of rail operators. I am pleased to welcome Kathryn Darbandi, who is the managing director of Caledonian Sleeper Ltd; Alex Hynes, who is the managing director of Scotland’s Railway; Joanne Maguire, who is the chief operating officer of ScotRail Trains Ltd; and Liam Sumpter, who is the route director of Network Rail Scotland. Thank you for joining us today.

I put on record the fact that I was one of the first conveners that Alex Hynes had the misfortune to come across when he took over his position in 2017. He has now accepted a secondment as director general for rail services for Transport UK, I think, which, to my mind, is recognition of the hard work that he has done. Congratulations on that appointment, Alex. It is fitting that I should get the last chance to have a go at you before you go. [Laughter.] I will be very gentle. I will not remind you about the bridge at Dalwhinnie, except to put on record the fact that you promised that it would be replaced and it still has not been.

I will begin with a question for Joanne Maguire about budgets. How much does it cost to run ScotRail a year? How do you go about sorting out the budget? Do you just say, “This is what we need,” and that is what the Government gives you? How does that work? Could you please explain that to me, if you would not mind?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scotland’s Railways

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Edward Mountain

I do not think that that comes to £14 million, but there we go.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scotland’s Railways

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Edward Mountain

I want to clarify something. Your fares ratchet up fairly quickly as the day of travel gets closer—the cost of a basic berth can suddenly increase from roughly between £120 and £140 to £220 when few spaces are available. Peak fares operate on Caledonian Sleeper’s service.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scotland’s Railways

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Edward Mountain

I understand that but, as the day of travel gets closer, your prices for overnight accommodation can double.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scotland’s Railways

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Edward Mountain

It is sometimes double.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scotland’s Railways

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Edward Mountain

Okay. I have learned from my mistake.

I will bring in Mark Ruskell very briefly to ask one question to one witness.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scotland’s Railways

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Edward Mountain

Go on—give us a clue. How much is a carriage?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scotland’s Railways

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Edward Mountain

What about a train to pull it? What would the new version of the 125 cost, which I seem to remember having on my railway track when I was a kid?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scotland’s Railways

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Edward Mountain

Thank you. I just wanted to get that context. We will go back to Bob Doris’s questions.