Analysis: Give local people support they need to put our communities back on track

STATIONS are the gateway to the rail network. The Scottish Stations Investment Fund makes accessing that gateway more possible, but it is only the start of a complicated process in which local communities must be given practical assistance and be listened to.

We welcome the creation of the fund and hope it will lead to improvements at existing stations and see the aspirations of local communities realised with the addition of new stations to the rail network.

For this investment to be a success, it must be based on solid, in-depth passenger research and consultation so that what is delivered is what passengers want and need.

Clearly, it is not possible to provide every creature comfort at every wayside halt, but it is vital to examine the minimum facilities each type of station should have and ensure they are provided and properly maintained.

The starting point for existing stations is the passenger experience. The latest National Passenger Survey showed that although overall satisfaction with stations stood at 85 per cent, only 56 per cent were satisfied with the facilities and services at stations and only 48 per cent satisfied with the facilities for car parking.

Research on stations by Passenger Focus has indicated passengers value real-time information, staff, toilets and heated waiting rooms. Stations also need to be much more accessible to disabled passengers.

At many stations, the car park is full by 9am. If a station car park becomes full during the morning peak, it becomes a barrier to off-peak use when spare seats are available and additional passengers represent no extra cost to the railway.

If car parking capacity is not expanded in line with expected increases in demand for rail travel, this is likely to result in increased traffic, carbon emissions and will suppress demand for rail travel.

Before any new station is built a number of obstacles have to be overcome, including transport appraisals and planning permissions. If local communities are to submit detailed proposals for new stations, they must be given assistance by Transport Scotland, Network Rail, ScotRail and local authorities to navigate those obstacles.

A new station at a wrong location could play havoc with the timetable and adversely affect performance, worsening punctuality. But at all recent station openings, passenger demand has far exceeded transport appraisal estimates.

Those issues have to be taken into account to ensure local communities can see their aspirations realised.

• Robert Samson is a passenger manager at Passenger Focus, the independent rail consumer watchdog.