Developing and implementing an efficient timetable for the Scottish rail network is a key task in delivering excellent service.
Efficient timetabling will aid performance, especially punctuality. It will also make the best use of resources (trains, train crews and the available track capacity) to provide value for money.
Changes to the planned timetable
All European railway timetables change on the second Sunday in December. Minor changes can be made at the secondary change date in the following May.
Timetable changes can occur because travel patterns have changed, resulting in service patterns being altered to reflect those changes, and new services or stations can be added.
Commercial changes can be initiated by any of the stakeholders:
- Transport Scotland
- Regional Transport Partnerships
- Department for Transport (for Anglo-Scottish trains)
- Freight Operating Companies
- First ScotRail (for a number of reasons including: franchise requirements, response to customer suggestions or as a result of changes to the rolling stock).
The detailed project work required for each proposed change must have been developed significantly in advance of the formal specification period.
Commercial changes may need to be incorporated into the Transport Scotland/First ScotRail Franchise Agreement, as a change to the Service Level Commitment (SLC), and may require a change to the financial terms to reflect the cost and revenue changes.
Each potential or actual change will be mapped out for each timetable period to ensure that:
- a network-wide view is taken of the proposed changes
- the optimum timetable is delivered each year
- changes are consistent year-on-year.
Changes are kept to a minimum to avoid passenger confusion.
Timescales for creating timetables
The programme for the creation of the December timetables is as follows:
- June of the year prior to the December in which the timetable is to take effect: commercial specification to First ScotRail is formally issued
- September: commercial specification to First ScotRail is finalised, including train crew, rolling stock requirements and funding. This is sufficient time for train drivers to be recruited and trained
- February prior to the timetable date: the train operator timetable is largely complete and presented at the UK wide timetable conference.
This means all the commercial service specifications must be finalised by June, with the funding in place by October.
Training new drivers
Training a driver takes about 15 months, so any additional drivers needed to operate the service in the following December will need to be in training by October the previous year.
