This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/uk/518407-scotland-to-nationalise-railways/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scottish government to nationalise country’s ScotRail operator from next spring, when franchise expires | Scottish government to nationalise country’s ScotRail operator from next spring, when franchise expires |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A public sector body will take charge of Scotland’s railways when the franchise run by Dutch company Abellio ends on March 31 next year, the Scottish government announced on Wednesday. | A public sector body will take charge of Scotland’s railways when the franchise run by Dutch company Abellio ends on March 31 next year, the Scottish government announced on Wednesday. |
| An arm’s-length “operator of last resort” owned and controlled by the government will take over the ScotRail franchise from April 2022, Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson said. | An arm’s-length “operator of last resort” owned and controlled by the government will take over the ScotRail franchise from April 2022, Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson said. |
| Abellio has been criticised for apparently allowing trains to run late, while questions have been raised over whether the services it provides are value for money. | Abellio has been criticised for apparently allowing trains to run late, while questions have been raised over whether the services it provides are value for money. |
| “I have decided that it would not be appropriate to award a franchise agreement to any party at this time, either through a competition or a direct award,” Matheson said in a statement. | “I have decided that it would not be appropriate to award a franchise agreement to any party at this time, either through a competition or a direct award,” Matheson said in a statement. |
| ScotRail’s 5,200 staff will be transferred to the new government-controlled company, the operator clarified in a statement. | ScotRail’s 5,200 staff will be transferred to the new government-controlled company, the operator clarified in a statement. |
| Matheson had already confirmed last year that Abellio would lose its franchise, come the end of March 2022. | Matheson had already confirmed last year that Abellio would lose its franchise, come the end of March 2022. |
| Since March 2020, the Scottish government has given ScotRail £452 million ($630 million) in funding to see it through the Covid-19 pandemic as passenger numbers dropped due to coronavirus restrictions. | Since March 2020, the Scottish government has given ScotRail £452 million ($630 million) in funding to see it through the Covid-19 pandemic as passenger numbers dropped due to coronavirus restrictions. |
| It is set to plough a similar amount of cash into the operator over the next 12 months, Matheson has confirmed. | It is set to plough a similar amount of cash into the operator over the next 12 months, Matheson has confirmed. |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |