Bring back railways to public control say Labour
SCOTLAND’S railways have become about private profit instead of an affordable efficient service for the public according to Labour.
Richard Leonard, Scottish Labour leader, campaigned outside Glasgow Central Station, claiming performance on the railways had dropped while fares are rising.
Mr Leonard said the ScotRail franchise should be under public control and the railways re-nationalised.
Mr Leonard said: “Public transport has become too detached from being a public service, which prioritises reliability, affordability and punctuality.”
Labour highlighted statistics that show the most recent punctuality performance level falling to 88.2 per cent, while the target of 92.13 per cent.
Mr Leonard added: “Passengers will benefit from rail services being reintegrated into the public sector as this removes private sector companies with their excessive running costs.
“Across Europe public sector run trains are better than the current ScotRail service, with passengers in Scotland forced to endure overcrowded, delayed and cancelled services.”
The Scottish Government however, said it has enabled a public run firm to bid for the ScotRail contract.
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: “We have already secured the right for a public-sector operator to bid for a rail franchise in Scotland – after being denied by previous UK governments, which will enable a level playing field between the private and public sector in bidding for rail franchises for the benefit of passengers and best value for the public purse.
“We should not lose sight of the transformational process under way on our railways including the infrastructure enhancements, as well as the introduction of new and fully re-furbished rolling stock with the additional services that they will provide.”