Union reacts with fury as Scotrail ‘goes Dutch’

A UNION HAS reacted with fury to reports that a Dutch firm will be awarded the next £2.5billion ScotRail franchise.

The contract is to run most of Scotlands trains for the next decade from April 2015. FirstGroup was said to have been among five shortlisted bidders for the deal. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Current operator FirstGroup is expected to lose the franchise to rail operator Abellio, an offshoot of Dutch national railways.

The contract is to run most of Scotland’s trains for the next decade from April 2015. FirstGroup was said to have been among five shortlisted bidders for the deal.

Neither Transport Scotland nor ScotRail would comment on the reports last night. Transport Minister Keith Brown is due to announce a “major Scottish transport development” today.

But rail union RMT reacted furiously to the “scandalous” development, saying it represented a missed opportunity to bring the franchise back into public ownership.

Union bosses described the reported move as a “disgraceful and shameful betrayal of the Scottish people” soon after the referendum vote and said the whole franchising process should have been put on hold for now.

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RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “It is scandalous that just a few weeks after the referendum, and promises from all quarters that the Scottish people would have an increased say in every aspect of their lives, that the continued privatisation of Scotland’s railways has been bulldozed through with the SNP colluding with the political elite in Westminster to deny the opportunity for this franchise to be brought back into public ownership.

“There is no question that this whole franchising process could and should have been halted, pending the ratification of the post referendum devolution settlement, instead of rushing headlong into a deal that will deny the Scottish people ownership and control of their railways for many years to come.

“Scotland could have taken control of its own railways, instead they have opted to go Dutch, meaning that profits will be sucked out of the system to underpin investment and fares in Holland.

“It is a disgraceful and shameful betrayal of the Scottish people and makes a mockery of promises made both before and immediately after the referendum vote. RMT will continue the fight for public ownership with every means at our disposal.“