MPpraises ‘newera’ forrailway
Renfrewshire MP Gavin Newlands believes the nationalisation of Scottish train services will be “transformational”.
He was speaking yesterday as Scotrail moved from the private sector to being fully owned and controlled by Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government.
Rail services have operated as a franchise since the Conservative government’s privatisation of the industry in the 1990s, with Scotrail transferred to the private sector on March 31, 1997.
A quarter of a century on, the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North also repeated calls for full control over Scotland’s railways to come to Holyrood.
At the moment the Scottish Parliament is responsible for the train operator, but track and infrastructure are the responsibility of Network Rail, which remains controlled by the Westminster Government.
Gavin said: “This is a milestone moment for Scotland’s railways a full quarter-century since Scotrail was first sold off by John Major’s Tory government.
“With free travel for kids on Scotrail services this weekend, it’s a bumper spring for Scotland’s railways as we move forward into a new era of democratic accountability and public ownership.
“Recent years have seen the full electrification of the Paisley Canal line, upgrades on the Paisley Gilmour Street – Glasgow Central route, and new electric rolling stock across the network, with game-changing investment right across the rest of our rail system.
“Improving and investing in our rail network is crucial in cutting carbon emissions and providing real alternatives to getting in the car, and I know the coming years will see the transformation of our railways continue as has happened over recent years.
“We shouldn’t expect results overnight – but having Scotrail in public ownership will over time be a boon to passengers and potential passengers alike.
“It’s now time for full powers over railways, including track and infrastructure, to come to the Scottish Parliament rather than persist with the current division where Scotland runs the trains and Westminster runs the rails.
“That can’t be sensible or a good way to run a railway, and I’ve urged the UK Government to see sense and ensure a joined up approach in Scotland, rather than the chaos and underinvestment we see down south”