The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
‘Last resort’ plan for running railways
The Scottish Government has put plans in place to run the railways as an “operator of last resort” if ScotRail’s performance fails to improve, the transport secretary has confirmed.
Michael Matheson said the Abellio ScotRail franchise could be terminated if it fails to deliver on the remedial plan it was issued with earlier this year.
Mr Matheson said: “We have ongoing plans for putting in place the provision for operator of last resort, we’ve got various contracts with consultants and agencies who would support us in delivering that if that was necessary.”
In February, ministers handed ScotRail its second improvement notice in less than two months after passenger satisfaction fell to its lowest level in 15 years.
Mr Matheson told MSPs on Holyrood’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee the rail operator was making “good progress in a range of different provisions that were set out in the remedial plan”.
However, he said: “Some of the benefits that will come from the remedial plan will take longer to be delivered, purely because of the complexity of these issues.”
He stressed the “consequences of failing to deliver on the remedial plan and to get out of breach is very serious for the franchise plan holder”.
It came a week after ScotRail boss Alex Hynes told the committee a review planning for major events was taking place after passengers faced significant disruption to services at Edinburgh Waverley last month.