Franchise obligations for Abellio related to the ScotRail franchise: FOI release

 

All details of any overview/audit of franchise obligations for Abellio related to the ScotRail franchise and showing how Abellio is performing against the various obligations set out in the franchise. 
 
This could be (but not limited to) audits by Transport Scotland or its agents, or rolling progress (eg, traffic light-style) reports updated continuously by Transport Scotland. If the latter, to provide the latest available snapshot of any rolling progress report.

 

 

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information in the format requested. 
 
It may help if I explain that there are many different areas of the Franchise agreement that are monitored through different work areas both at ScotRail and Transport Scotland. There is no collective document or audit that reports on this.
 
However, from the context of your request I gather you may be referring to the committed obligations set within the franchise. I have included a monthly report which is received from ScotRail setting out how Abellio is performing against the committed obligations set out in the franchise. 
 
An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of Abellio ScotRail. 

 

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of Abellio ScotRail, to ensure that we are always able to obtain the best value for public money.