Calls Intensify for ScotRail to be Nationalised

Calls for rail services operated by Abellio ScotRail to be nationalised have intensified, with the RMT planning a demonstration in Glasgow tomorrow.

The rail workers union RMT are calling for the immediate termination of Abellio ScotRail’s contract and for the rail service to be brought permanently back into public ownership.

Rail users in Scotland have suffered from delays, cancellations and the botched introduction of new trains over the period since the Dutch owned Abellio took over the franchise.

The RMT’s members and supporters will begin their march at 11am outside the regional office of the union on Hope Street in Glasgow, before heading to Abellio ScotRail’s headquarters on Waterloo Street, and then finally moving on to the Scottish Government offices located at Atlantic Quay.

The RMT’s General Secretary, Mick Cash said; “Abellio has brought devastation to the Scottish rail network with a catalogue of failures which has severely affected both the travelling public and the workforce.

“With the Scottish Government confirming this month that it has a public sector operator of last resort in place to take over the failing Abellio ScotRail‎ franchise the message from tomorrow’s protests will be stop messing about and get on with it.

“There should be no more final warnings, no more half-baked rescue plans and no more playing for time. Abellio should have the Scotrail franchise terminated with immediate effect on the grounds of persistent and gross mismanagement and the whole operation should be taken into public ownership.”

The Scottish government, which has political control of the rail franchise, has the legal option of exercising a break clause in the franchise contract next year.