7. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve rail services for passengers in the Mid Scotland and Fife region. (S6O-02670)

The Scottish Government has invested consistently in the improvement of rail services in Mid Scotland and Fife. For example, new trains that are faster and greener are providing passengers travelling to Alloa with quicker journeys due to electrification, and the Levenmouth railway will reopen next year. As I mentioned earlier, passengers throughout Scotland are also benefiting from lower fares during the ScotRail peak fares removal pilot.

As the Minister recognises, the impact of Covid on rail passenger numbers has been significant. On taking ownership of ScotRail, the Scottish Government said that it would meet the needs of people, and those needs include inclusive pricing. Can the minister confirm when the delayed rail fares review is expected? It was expected by the end of the year; can she confirm that that is still the case?

Also, given that public finance has contributed to the rail fares pilot that she referred to, how is the Scottish Government involved in the on-going monitoring of the pilot and, in particular, its progress in encouraging new passengers on to the rail network?

We want to see modal shift. We have removed peak fares to encourage that, and I ask all MSPs to help to publicise that pilot. The member will be aware that, in October, we were subject to severe weather, which has clearly had an impact on the running of some services. It is important that we get behind the peak fares removal pilot to encourage modal shift.

I think that the member is referring to the fair fares review, which is due to report by the end of the year—that will happen. On the national rail conversation, as I reported to the Cabinet, I am more focused on delivery and action, so that has now been rolled into the fair fares review, as part of the analysis of rail fares.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

I remind members that the question is about rail services in Mid Scotland and Fife. I call Jackie Dunbar.

O ye of little faith, Presiding Officer.

As the Minister has said in answer to a previous question, the Scottish Government has reconnected one station in Mid Scotland and Fife to the railway and will reconnect two more shortly. Will the minister remind us why that action, which had not been taken by any previous Scottish Government, was necessary?

This Government has a great track record on reconnecting communities. The opening of Cameron Bridge and Leven railway stations in Levenmouth will help to reconnect communities, and the opening of the Leven station in particular will make a big difference.

We have invested more than £11 billion to give Scottish people the railway that they want and deserve. Since 2009, we have reconnected 15 communities. As I mentioned, people in Mid Scotland and Fife will benefit particularly from the opening of the stations on the Levenmouth railway.

One of the direct consequences of improving rail services in Mid Scotland and Fife is a new ScotRail timetable under which local train services in the north-east will be slashed. What impact does the Minister predict that those cuts will have on the accessibility of places such as Aberdeen, Inverurie and Stonehaven, the businesses and economy there and the modal shift that she speaks of?

I think that the geography of the member’s region is being stretched somewhat. Looking at Mid Scotland and Fife, I note that the consultation on the Fife timetable was launched in early September and it closed on 23 October. One of the proposed options is an additional service running in Fife, which could ease the capacity issues on existing services.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

My faith is restored.