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The UK government is pursuing longer and more flexible rail passenger franchises with elements of vertical integration of track and trains but also decentralisation with greater regional involvement.

The new Scottish Government is expected to begin early consultation on successor arrangements for the ScotRail franchise exnding in 2014.  SNP policy favours a longer franchise and a degree of vertical integration of track and passenger trains.  This raises concern that freight may receive less attention.

In England, greater involvement of regional bodies in future passenger franchises is anticipated.  SAPT has suggested that, in place of a centralised approach, there is scope for involvement by Regional Transport Partnerships and local authorities in franchise issues related to local and city region services.  Other opinion favours abolition of RTPs (except around Glasgow) and development of shared services by local authorities.  Transport Scotland has been criticised for a pre-occupation with longer distance rail in Scotland.

After long delays since initial proposals in 2005, the UK government has confirmed a £4.5bn Hitachi order for electric and hybrid trains to replace existing trains and increase capacity on the ECML and London-South Wales line.  They should enter service from 2016. Scottish Conservatives want assurances that Scotland-London sleeper services will continue. Labour is seeking new sleeper services through to Paris and Brussels.

Glasgow Crossrail campaigners have made proposals for some trains from Edinburgh via Bathgate to run over an electrified Bellgrove to Shields Rd link giving a through service from Edinburgh, Bathgate and Coatbridge to Paisley (and possibly Glasgow Airport or Ayrshire/Inverclyde) before the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and providing a greater boost for the East Glasgow/Clyde Gateway renewal area.  

With the shift of ferry services from Stranraer to Cairnryan this autumn, SAPT has urged the Scottish Government, SWESTRAN and interested parties to introduce a co-ordinated approach to public transport on the corridor south from Ayr, cutting overall costs but improving quality.

Complaints continue about confusing ScotRail fare structures and long delays in the start of comprehensive multi-modal ticketing in the Scottish Central Belt.  SPT raised rail and ferry concession fares from 1 April.  There has been anger at plans to impose £1 parking charges at the extended Croy park and ride, rising to £2 after residents parking zones are established.

Passenger lifts are now in operation at Edinburgh Haymarket and work has started on escalators from Edinburgh Waverley to Princes St.

Despite recession, railpassenger rail trips in Britain rose 6.9% in 2010 though growth was somewhat lower in Scotland.  ATOC reports that the rail share of traffic on domestic routes competing with air rose from 29% in 2006 to 44% in 2010.  The Edinburgh-London rail share rose from 17% to 27% and Glasgow-London from 10% to 20%.  Air modal shares were much higher on routes such as Bristol-Glasgow and London-Aberdeen yet rail share has risen from 2% & 4% to 3% & 8% respectively in 2010.  (Road vehicle kilometres in Britain fell 2.1% in 2010 though almost half of this relates to severe weather in January 2010 and late 2010.)  

The issue of bus traffic in Princes St is causing controversy.  Several retailers and the former Lothian Buses Manager, Neil Renilson, see no scope for reducing buses in Princes St. but the predominant view favours some reduction in Princes St. buses – possibly restricted to low emission single-deck vehicles – as part of a package including greater bus use of George St., integrated fares and termination of some bus routes at suitable locations on the edge of the city centre or having good interchange with trams.

The Fastlink bus scheme is likely to be scaled down with the immediate priority being improved bus links from Glasgow city centre to SECC and the new Transport Museum and using the Clyde Arc bridge for access to Govan and the enlarged Southern General Hospital.

Transport Scotland has delayed £5.1m plans for bus priority on the M77 hard shoulder on the 8km stretch closest to Glasgow.  This scheme may be revived later with similar plans for the M90.

A decision is expected soon on plans to decriminalise bus lane offences.  There is concern that cameras used to catch offenders may simply be a means of raising cash for Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.