Controversial rail policing plan outlined

if they’re willing to take the credit for rail infrastructure projects, they’ve got to take responsibility as well.

“Can the travelling public therefore now expect an apology from the government for the level of disruption and delays they’ve experienced over the last few months, disruption and delays which seem set to continue?”

Mr Yousaf highlighted that the Queen Street tunnel had opened ahead of schedule and under-budget while on the Borders Railway passenger numbers had exceeded forecasts.

The transport minister added he was “deeply frustrated” at the “utterly unacceptable” delays to EGIP and said the point of the review by Transport Scotland was to “put Network Rail through the mill”. The Scottish Government is to press ahead with plans to integrate the British Transport Police into Police Scotland.

The Railway Policing Bill will put in place funding arrangements for the merger of BTP operations in Scotland with the cash-strapped national police force.

The legislation is one of a number of justice measures included in the SNP’S programme for government, whichwaspublishedyesterday.

The Domestic Abuse Bill will create a new offence of domestic abuse that will criminalise psychological abuse such as “coercive behaviour”. 0 Transport police are set to merge with the national force

Under the Limitation (Childhood Abuse) Bill, the threeyear time bar on raising personal injury actions will be lifted for survivors of child abuse.

The time bar has previously been blamed for preventing those abused in childhood from seeking compensation through the civil courts.

There is also a pledge to investigate alternatives to short-term prison sentences, including the use of GPS tracking.

Police Scotland’s £1.1 billion annual revenue budget will be protected in real terms, with the government supporting work being carried out by the Scottish Police Authority to “transform” the service, including more specialists in cyber-crime and counter-fraud. There will also be an extra £2m to allow Police Scotland to maintain its ageing estate.

However, it is the Railway Policing Bill which is likely to be the most contentious item among the justice measures.

Last week the British Transport Police Federation, which represents officers working for the service, said the Scottish Government’s plans would create “inconsistencies” for the millions of passengers who make cross-border journeys each year.

It also warned that BTP officers would be “abstracted” from their duties to “bolster” Police Scotland.

Railway policing is being devolved to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act following a recommendation by the Smith Commission.