Labour demands rail nationalisation

Almost 75,000 trains have been cancelled under Abellio’s stewardship of Scotrail in the past four years, according to Scottish Labour, as it steps up demands for the railway to be brought under government control.

A total of 74,514 trains have been cancelled since Abellio was given control of the franchise in 2015 – around 327 trains a week or 47 every day – yet the party said rail fares had continued to rise, with another 13 per cent hike expected in January, and the Kids Go Free scheme has been scrapped.

Tomorrow Labour will demand in the Scottish Parliament that the government end the franchise early and return Scotland’s railways to public ownership.

Transport spokesperson Colin Smyth said: “Hundreds of trains are being cancelled every week in Scotland under the failing Abellio franchise.

“Passengers were promised a ‘world-leading’ deal by the SNP but they have instead had to put up with a miserable service.

“To make matters worse, rail fares have increased and a new price rise is set to be imposed on passengers in January. Enough is enough.”

Scotrail said it “understood and shared” customer frustrations when “things don’t go to plan” but there had been “unprecedented investment” in upgrading infrastructure and trains and a “consistent level of performance” was being delivered.