MSPs are due to vote this week (Wednesday) on exercising the early break clause in Abellio's Scotrail franchise agreement. The break would be exercised in 2020 with the franchise ending earlier in 2022.
More discussion about renationalisation and a future public bid for the franchise.
Some links to coverage below:
https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2018/11/12-scotrail-franchise-faces-early-termination.html
More discussion about renationalisation and a future public bid for the franchise.
Some links to coverage below:
https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2018/11/12-scotrail-franchise-faces-early-termination.html
https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/msps-to-vote-on-public-ownership-of-trains-1-4827926THE Scottish Government could be poised to exercise a break clause in the ScotRail contract in 2020, ending the Abellio franchise in 2022, but this will depend on the result of a crucial vote in the Scottish Parliament this week.
Dissatisfaction with performance has fuelled criticism from politicians as well as passengers, and MSPs are set to vote in two days from now on a Labour motion to return ScotRail to public ownership.
Abellio, the overseas arm of Dutch Railways, has already been forced to prop up ScotRail with a cash injection of £10 million...
https://www.thenational.scot/news/1...il-network-as-they-vote-on-scotrail-contract/Ferry operator David MacBrayne, which is wholly owned by Scottish ministers, has already expressed an interest in taking over the rail franchise.
Transport union TSSA also backs a public sector bid....
Under the terms of the agreement with the train operator, ministers can exercise an opportunity in 2020 to end the franchise by its first expiry date two years later if the firm fails to meet its obligations. The franchise is currently run by Dutch state-owned Abellio, whose 10-year contract began in 2015.
Former transport minister Humza Yousaf pledged to work up a public sector bid two years ago after criticism of Abellio’s performance.
He argued that the operator had not been good enough as he urged unions and opposition parties to work with him to produce a public sector alternative....
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