Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 15 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether funding will be made available to support ScotRail train driver recruitment, in order to phase out the reported need to depend on rest day working for the operation of a full timetable.
ScotRail has been recruiting more staff to minimise reliance on staff working on rest days or overtime. ScotRail now employs 250 more train drivers than it did prior to public sector ownership. In addition, 160 Train Drivers are currently being recruited, the highest number ever, and ScotRail plans to continue its recruitment for Train Drivers in the coming years.
All ScotRail staffing costs including the funding for the planned recruitment are reflected in the current Transport Scotland rail budget for the financial year 2024-2025.