ScotRail’s huge subsidies drain taxpayers’ cash

SCOTRAIL receives a taxpayer subsidy of more than £32million a month. During the pandemic it received millions more.

In April 2019, its employees gained a 6.5 per cent increase over 18 months ‘tied to more flexible working to minimise disruption’. What happened to that promise?

Drivers are on an average salary of £54,000 a year. The general secretary of the RMT union, Mick Lynch, says that ScotRail ‘needs to put its hands deeper into its pockets and start rewarding their staff properly’.

Except ScotRail has no ‘pockets’ to delve into. The money comes from UK taxpayers – and it’s worth noting that only 56 per cent of adults actually pay income tax.

ScotRail is a drain on taxpayer finances and if its employees vote to strike that will only get worse. WILLIAM LONESKIE,

Lauder, Berwickshire.

Under curfew

I NEVER thought the day would come when the last train to Fife would leave Edinburgh before 8pm and Fifers visiting friends or perhaps the theatre would have to stay overnight – or find some other way to get home!

In addition, no mainline trains are now stopping here so we have to travel to Edinburgh for a connection then find our own way home... before 8pm of course!

The weaknesses of our railway system have been apparent for years. So how has any political party the nerve to suddenly tell us we appear to be about 100 drivers short and almost 700 services will be cut daily – perhaps for a year or two? Ridiculous. ARCHIBALD A. LAWRIE,

Kingskettle, Fife.

Left at a loss

I HAVE boooked for concerts during the rest of the year in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

I do not have a car and rely on the train. I have a dog which I cannot leave overnight therefore have to get home.

A taxi would cost £100 or more which is unaffordable, as would be a hotel if I could stay overnight.

If these cancellations continue I have lost money and the pleasure of the shows.

I would also be wary of making any bookings for next year, not knowing how long this will continue.

After all we have been through this is another slap in the face and more evidence of our government’s inability to run anything. ELIzABETH GuTHRIE, Auchterarder, Perthshire.

On track to fail

I HAD to shell out £60 on a taxi to Queen Street station on Saturday. ScotRail cancelled the early morning train I had planned to take to enable the necessary connections on my journey to London. Well done Nicola. Rail nationalisation is obviously going to be as successful as the ferry operations.

JEAN MuNRO, Kilmaurs, Ayrshire. NOW Miss Sturgeon wishes to go one better than Dr Beeching. Is there no end to her talent?

BRYCE WILSON, Ayr.

Runaway inflation

FOR six months, I’ve been saying that keeping interest rates artificially low is a serious error.

The base rate in January should have been at least 1.5 per cent. Now we have runaway inflation, cheap borrowing and property prices through the roof. Next will come financial collapse. The base rate should now be 2.75 per cent rising to 4.25 per cent. Without pain, there will be no gain. The 2 per cent target is a joke. GERALD A. NORDEN,

Knutsford, Cheshire.

HERE we go again. EU inflation is 3.5 per cent while we have 9 per cent. Next year, the EU expects 2.7 per cent and we may well be suffering 10 or 12 per cent. Is it not incumbent on our leaders to explain why we always have the highest inflation, deepest recession and slowest recovery?

B. BOND, St Neots, Cambs.

Killer dogs

HOW many more children will be savaged and killed by dogs before action is taken?

I have felt threatened by snarling, growling dogs four times in the past couple of years. It is terrifying, but the owners just say: ‘Oh, he’s never done that before!’

I believe that all dogs should be muzzled in public and owners of animals that kill should be charged with murder.

This might stop people buying and breeding these killer dogs.

JANET PRINCE, Bournemouth, Dorset.

Attitude problem

THE picture of Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth in the back of a chauffeur-driven limousine typifies the SNP’s attitude towards the taxpayer.

If it does need its fleet of cars why must it be a Tesla – not exactly the cheapest car on the market? Just another prime example of the SNP attitude of ‘we’ll do what we like and, if you’re not happy about it, tough luck’.

IAN BALLOCH, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire.

Rubber stamp

WHY is it a surprise to so many people that Whitehall civil servants are anti-Brexiteers?

When we were in Europe, all they had to do was rubber-stamp everything that came from Brussels. Now they have to think for themselves, but they’ve lost the ability.

TONY CASHMORE, Nuneaton, Warks.