SNP’s ScotRail: 17,000 cancellations and 300,000 trains running late

In his first major investigation since being appointed transport spokesperson, Scottish Liberal Democrat Jamie Greene MSP has revealed that more than 17,000 trains were cancelled and a further 300,000 did not arrive on time last year on government-owned ScotRail.

Mr Greene is now calling on the Scottish Government to deliver a reliable railway system that works for all communities, all ages and the climate.

Figures provided by Transport Scotland to Scottish Liberal Democrats have revealed that:

• 17,491 trains were cancelled in the financial year 2024/25.
• 306,120 trains did not arrive within a minute of their scheduled arrival time. This is the equivalent of 45% of all trains.
• 71,691 trains were five minutes or more late. This is the equivalent of 10% of all trains.

Commenting on the figures, Mr Greene said:

“When it is done right, train travel is swift, reliable and reduces traffic on our roads.

“Unfortunately these figures show that a considerable number of passengers are shelling out huge sums of money to travel by train, only to find that some services simply don’t arrive.

“It’s more than three years since the SNP government took over responsibility for Scotland’s trains but we are still seeing tens of thousands of trains cancelled or running late.

“If we want to coax people out of their cars, that has to start with a service that runs on time.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see a public transport system that works for all communities, all ages and the climate. The Transport Secretary needs to work with ScotRail to drive down delays and ensure that passengers can get to their destinations on time.

“We also want to see government working with councils to explore new lines, especially in areas where public transport links are poor, and new options for two/ three-day-a-week season tickets. That’s how to make Scotland’s railways an attractive prospect for tourists and commuters alike.”