TRANSPORT Scotland have denied “shifting the goal posts” to protect Scotrail.

Labour and the TSSA trade union accused the Scottish Government of using Storm Ali as an excuse to change strict punctuality targets to avoid the national rail company, operated by Dutch firm Abellio, breaching targets.

Recent statistics revealed that 88% of trains arrived on time or within five minutes in the four-week period to September 15.

Labour claimed this was a breach of the terms of the ScotRail franchise as it was more than four points lower than the Scottish Government’s 92.1% target.

But reports yesterday suggested ministers had agreed with ScotRail to alter the “breach” level because of severe weather, poor infrastructure performance and the effect of delays in cross-Border services.

Scottish Labour’s transport spokesperson Colin Smyth said: “These are astounding revelations.”

He added: “ScotRail should have breached its franchise agreement, but now we learn that the SNP has shifted the goal posts.

“It is unacceptable to have secret agreements between SNP ministers and rail bosses designed to dupe passengers and maintain a failing franchise.

“SNP Transport Secretary Michael Matheson is no longer just a cheerleader for privatisation, he seems to be manipulating arrangements behind the scenes to protect it and failing to even mention it in Parliament when questioned about the franchise.

“That is unacceptable and the public deserve an urgent explanation from Michael Matheson.”

Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA, said the allegations were “absolutely disgraceful”.

He added: “Franchise targets exist to ensure passengers and taxpayers are getting value for money.

“ScotRail’s failure to reach those targets, despite not just one but two improvement plans, is a very clear indication that Abellio is failing to deliver value for money.

“This is just a face-saving exercise for Abellio and the SNP. Michael Matheson announced recently that he wouldn’t be using the break clause in the ScotRail contract. Now with Abellio breaching their franchise agreement after a year of rail misery that looks like a very wrong decision.

“A braver politician would put their hands up, admit they got it wrong, and bring ScotRail back immediately into the public sector. But Matheson is wedded to the idea of privatisation and seems willing to engage in a cover-up of ScotRail failures rather than hold Abellio accountable.

“Matheson needs to immediately come before Parliament and explain his actions.”

A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “Any notion the goal posts have been shifted is fundamentally wrong. The allowances made are defined in the franchise agreement, and recognise the significant performance impacts as a result of Network Rail’s infrastructure issues in Scotland in recent months, and the impact the timetable crisis has placed on cross-border operators in England, impacting ScotRail performance.”

A ScotRail spokesman said: “We understand the frustration of our customers when things go wrong.”