Leader: ScotRail refunds nice, but rather keep trains running

Published on Friday 31 December 2010 11:06

Rail season ticket holders who have had rather fewer journeys than they expected in November and December because of the big freeze may well have been cheered to learn that ScotRail has decided to reimburse them for the missing travel.

The company has said that the refund, expected to cost up to 500,000, is more than it is obliged to pay given the disruption.

A plaudit to the company therefore, but it should also accompany each cheque with a letter explaining what it is going to do to make sure that the next time snow falls - which could be in the next fortnight - its trains do not stay in the sidings.

Yes, the weather was exceptional, but exceptions appear to be becoming the norm in Scotland's winter.

And it is unacceptable that every time a blizzard strikes, the railway grinds to a halt and thousands of travellers are unable to reach their place of work.

Trains which run on fixed tracks should be better able to cope with snow and ice than road transport, but that did not appear to be the case this winter.

It may well be that significant investment is required, particularly if, as appeared to be the case, it was not just snow but also low temperatures which stopped the trains.

If so, passengers who will probably have to foot the bill are entitled to know why trains were unable to cope with the snow and what needs to be done to make sure they can.

Refunds are welcome, but not the long-term solution.