Progress since the 2023-24 Delivery Plan

We have achieved considerable progress towards the four NTS priorities over the past year in a number of areas, as we see projects complete and celebrate milestones. Also, importantly, many of our activities continue to centre on maintaining and operating our current transport system, which is essential for getting people and goods where they need to be; allowing access to employment, education and leisure activities; and ensuring business competitiveness.

We continue to tackle inequalities, improve accessibility and seek to increase affordability. This year, for instance, saw the reopening of Levenmouth railway, at an investment level of £116 million, with two fully accessible stations at Cameron Bridge and in Leven, and passenger services commencing from 2 June. Over one kilometre of active travel bridges and routes connecting communities to the new stations are in delivery as part of the programme, and Scottish Ministers committed £5 million to maximise the socio-economic benefits of the new rail link, which has been match funded by Fife Council.

Since January 2022, over 176 million journeys have now been made [at 31 October 2024] by young people using free bus passes and more than 772,000 cardholders have now signed up. Following the completion of the ScotRail peak-fares pilot, we have introduced a twelve-month discount on all ScotRail season tickets and have permanently amended the terms of flexi passes to create a discount for those who travel less frequently.

Work is underway on the Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP), setting out how ferry services, supported by other transport modes, will be delivered, and strengthened, working towards a long-term vision, with findings from the recent public consultation and community engagement on various islands published alongside our initial response to the consultation report.

The first of the six new major vessels - MV Glen Sannox - was delivered to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL)/CalMac in November 2024 and operational readiness activities are well underway, with deployment on the Troon-Brodick route expected in January 2025. Construction of the five other major vessels is underway and the second stage of procurement for seven new small vessels started in August 2024.

Moreover, since 1 June, all four of Scotland’s largest cities have been fully enforcing Low Emission Zones, bringing benefits for cleaner air and public health.

Achieving net zero by 2045 remains a key focus and we continue to take steps towards this goal, working with councils who want to take forward their own demand management policies, encouraging a switch to less polluting modes and decarbonising public transport.

A new website and app for Traveline Scotland has launched, improving the quality of journey planning information available and helping support the shift to more sustainable modes. It includes all public transport modes and cycle schemes, as well as providing detail on tickets and journey cost options. It allows users to choose what matters most to them, be that the quickest route, fewest changes, step-free access or the route with the smallest carbon footprint. Further to this, digital concessionary ferry tickets for services to Orkney and Shetland have been launched, improving our concession scheme integrity.

On rail, we electrified the Barrhead line and we are electrifying the East Kilbride line. We are also providing a travel interchange at a relocated Hairmyres Station. 75% of passenger journeys on rail are already on electrified lines.

We have awarded substantial funding to local authorities to encourage greater private investment in the electric vehicle (EV) charging network. We already have the most comprehensive electric charging system outside London, which is encouraging people to switch to EVs. We have enabled collaboration across stakeholders to ensure Scotland has met the target of having 6,000 public EV chargers two years ahead of the planned schedule of 2026. We have published research exploring where charging and hydrogen fuelling will be needed for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in the future.

The third Scottish National Adaptation Plan (SNAP3) was published during Climate Week in September. The Plan sets out actions to build Scotland’s resilience to the impacts of climate change, including in relation to our transport system.

Delivering a wellbeing economy requires a resilient and reliable transport system that gets people and goods where they need to be, and allows businesses to be competitive. To this effect, we continue to safely operate and maintain Scotland's trunk road and bridge network, using established and robust asset management and environmental principles, allowing it to contribute to Scotland's sustainable economic growth.

Our commitment to progress our A9 Dualling Delivery Plan is unwavering. The construction contract for the A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project was awarded in July. Once major works commence in Spring 2025, this will kickstart our rolling programme of construction to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness. The works will support local businesses, tourism and communities, by improving access to the Highlands. The procurement to dual the A9 between Tay Crossing and Ballinluig is also currently underway, with contract award expected in Summer 2025.

We have completed Phase 1 of the medium-term solution improvements at the Rest and Be Thankful on the A83 and awarded a contract for the long-term solution ground investigation site works. We also published the draft outcomes of the A96 Corridor Review, including the climate compatibility assessment and other statutory assessments, for consultation.

We published our Aviation Statement in July 2024, which sets out, for the first time, the strategic importance of aviation to Scotland and the specific actions we will take to help ensure we can continue to enjoy its many benefits, while significantly reducing emissions.

In terms of health, wellbeing and increasing the safety of the transport system, we have committed over £157 million this financial year to projects that make it easier to walk, wheel and cycle, including £35 million through Tier 1 of the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund, across all 32 local authorities; £19 million for our new regional behaviour change programme; and over £2 million for Bikeability.

We are already seeing encouraging improvements in the number of people walking and cycling where there is safe infrastructure, and we have seen significant transformational infrastructure delivered this year, for example: in Glasgow's South City Way, linking the South Side and the City Centre; in North Ayrshire, where we have extended the National Cycle Network at Fairlie; and in Clackmannanshire, with over £1.8 million funding supporting a new walking, wheeling and cycling route between Alva and Menstrie.

Road safety remains an absolute priority and we are determined that we continue to make investments to meet the targets contained in our Road Safety Framework to 2030 and to achieve safer road travel in Scotland, now and in the future. We are investing a record £36 million towards road safety in the 2024-25 financial year. This includes funding to help local authorities improve safety on local roads, campaigns to tackle the behaviours identified as causing most harm on our roads, and continued development of learning resources for children and young people, enhancing road safety across Scotland. In addition to this, we continue to invest in the Safety Camera Programme to encourage improved driver behaviour and ultimately enhance road safety across Scotland.