PUNCTUALITY on Scotland's rail network fell below target in the last year due to the impact of major sporting events including the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games.
Industry regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), found that an average of one in ten trains arrived late in Scotland during 2014-15 - meaning that the turned up more than five minutes behind schedule in the case of regional services, or more 10 minutes late on long-distance services.
It meant train performance fell short of the 92 per cent regulatory target for punctuality, with only 90.5 per cent of trains in Scotland on time last year.
ORR blamed the shortfall on the pressures of the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games when "a positive decision was made to manage the network to most effectively meet the needs of increased passenger demand".
However, the ORR said it would still investigate whether Network Rail, the body responsible for managing infrastructure including tracks and signalling, had "done everything reasonably practicable to achieve its regulatory target".
The findings are published today [fri] in the ORR's latest performance report for Network Rail in Scotland.
While the ORR welcomed progress on projects such as the new Borders Railway and Rutherglen-Coatbridge electrification, it criticised delays in completing planned maintenance and renewal work - highlighting that only half the expected plain line track and signalling renewals had been completed by year end.
ORR chief executive Richard Price said: "ORR is reviewing Network Rail's renewals plans for the next four years to understand the impact they will have on the sustainability of the network."
A Network Rail spokesman said: "We are committed to delivering the best service we can for passengers and are investing heavily in expanding and enhancing the railway.
"Today's railway is carrying more people, on more trains, than ever before and we are working hard to improve performance and punctuality.
"We have had a strong start to the new financial year with punctuality exceeding targets for the first two months and we are confident we can continue to respond positively to the challenge of restoring performance to previous levels."
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