ScotRail faces ongoing train driver shortage despite recruitment efforts

ScotRail is facing a significant shortage of train drivers, a problem that has persisted for years. The operator has launched a major recruitment campaign, hiring 160 trainees this year, but many existing drivers are leaving, complicating efforts to reduce reliance on overtime. Training new drivers is a lengthy process, taking up to two years, and is limited by the need for practical experience on specific routes. Despite recruiting 81 new drivers in 2023/24, 75 drivers left the company during the same period, highlighting ongoing staffing challenges. ScotRail aims to reduce overtime reliance by 2027, but the high turnover of drivers and the lengthy training process make this goal difficult to achieve. The rail industry is grappling with the effects of years of underinvestment and workforce strain.