How a ScotRail train driver earned a £100,000 wage for the first time

The overall wage of ScotRail drivers for 2023 have been published – and one earner posted a salary in excess of £100,000

It is believed to be the first time a ScotRail driver has ever earned a six-figure wage – and it has sparked calls for more staff to be hired.

Figures released under Freedom of Information have revealed a driver with the nationalised train operator was paid an annual income of £103,695 last year.

However, only £58,062 of the income came from the employee’s core wage.

Commuters and travellers at Edinburgh's Waverley Station. A ScotRail driver has received an annual wage of 100,000 pounds for what is believe to be the first time. Picture: PA

The remaining £45,633 was earned in overtime payments in an outcome that has led the Scottish Liberal Democrats to demand money instead be invested into training more drivers.

A total of 320 of ScotRail’s 1,250 drivers earned more than £70,000 last year, figures have revealed. A total of 80 drivers from that pool earned at least £80,000.

The rising levels of income has come against the backdrop of higher overtime commitments, with staffing shortages a common reason for cancellations across the ScotRail network.

Daniel O’Malley, the Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesman, said: “I commend the willingness of train drivers to put in extra hours. However, with overtime payments almost as much as someone’s salary, taxpayers may be inclined to think it is time to train some more drivers, especially when few other public employees make this kind of money.”

ScotRail is among the most reliable train operations in the UK for punctuality. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Train drivers are now amongst the highest-paid employees in Scotland’s public sector.

Under roles advertised in November working on the famous West Highland Line, trainee drivers were to be paid a starting salary of £32,968 per annum, increasing to £45,825 when newly qualified. The annual wage could thereafter rise to £58,028.

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “Train drivers are highly skilled individuals and salaries are in line with market rates for the skillset and high level of responsibility required.”

A Transport Focus rail user survey published late last year found an uptick in ScotRail’s overall performance, with more than 90 per cent of customers saying they were satisfied with the services provided.

The firm has emerged as one of the most reliable train operators in the UK for punctuality since becoming nationalised in 2022, with a rolling annual performance of 89.77 per cent in terms of services arriving within five minutes of schedule.