Support for rail decision

Mid Scotland and Fife Green MSP Mark Ruskell this week welcomed an announcement from the Scottish Government that the Abellio’s tenure as ScotRail franchisee was to be ended.

The Dutch-owned rail operator had a £7 billion contract to run Scotland’s rail network until 2015

However, Scottish Government Transport Secretary Michael Matheson announced last week he was taking advantage of a break clause in the agreement with Abellio to end it three years early, in 2022.

Ministers will now decide whether a new franchisee should be sought or the job of running the railway taken into public ownership.

Mr Ruskell said: “Delays, cancellations and overcrowding have occurred far too often on Scotland’s railways in recent years.

“Lack of consultation on timetable changes in Stirling area has also been deeply disappointing and indicative of an operator with little regard for its customers.

“The Scottish Government must now ensure that a robust public sector bid is in place so that our railways can be run in the public interest in future, rather than for private profit as now.

“In light of noises coming from down south that the UK Government intends to attack hard won rail workers’ rights, it’s also vital that Scottish ministers engage with trade unions at every step of the process in developing the next franchise, to ensure workers’ rights are at the heart of future ScotRail services and that there is no attempt to roll out driver only operation.”

People on our social media page also welcomed the decision.

Martin Thoirs posted: ‘Great news. The sooner the better.

However, Gordon Wilkie cautioned: ‘They’ll still be running the trains until March, 2022. Wouldn’t get excited just yet.’

Meanwhile Bruce Walker remarked ‘thank the Lord’, while Greg Davidson said: ‘They should be be called ScotFail’.

Abellio, which took over the franchise in 2015, has faced criticism over delays, overcrowding and performance levels.

In December last year, timetable changes provoked fury among regular rail travellers in Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.

Passengers were angry at the reduction in direct peak time services between Dunblane and Edinburgh.

Commenting on the loss of the contract, Abellio UK managing director Dominic Booth said the firm was “hugely disappointed” and felt that the decision was “the wrong choice for Scotland’s railway and its customers”.