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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Abellio ScotRail contract to be ended early | Abellio ScotRail contract to be ended early |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has confirmed the Abellio ScotRail contract is to end early, in 2022. | Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has confirmed the Abellio ScotRail contract is to end early, in 2022. |
| The Dutch operator has been running the service since 2015 but has faced criticism over cancellations and performance levels. | The Dutch operator has been running the service since 2015 but has faced criticism over cancellations and performance levels. |
| The firm was contracted until 2025, but Mr Matheson said a so-called "break clause" would be used to end the franchise in March 2022. | The firm was contracted until 2025, but Mr Matheson said a so-called "break clause" would be used to end the franchise in March 2022. |
| He told MSPs he was looking at other options, including the public sector. | He told MSPs he was looking at other options, including the public sector. |
| There had been political pressure on ministers over the service provided - with Labour highlighting a high number of cancellations, overcrowding and the cost of tickets. | There had been political pressure on ministers over the service provided - with Labour highlighting a high number of cancellations, overcrowding and the cost of tickets. |
| In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Matheson said a proposed increase in government subsidy for the service would not deliver sufficient benefits to passengers or the economy. | In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Matheson said a proposed increase in government subsidy for the service would not deliver sufficient benefits to passengers or the economy. |
| Mr Matheson said Abellio had "successes and challenges" over the first five years of the ScotRail franchise | Mr Matheson said Abellio had "successes and challenges" over the first five years of the ScotRail franchise |
| He said: "I believe that the decision I have advised the parliament of today, in respect of the ScotRail franchise, is the right one for passengers, communities, the economy and taxpayers." | He said: "I believe that the decision I have advised the parliament of today, in respect of the ScotRail franchise, is the right one for passengers, communities, the economy and taxpayers." |
| "It is of course necessary to plan for the future provision of ScotRail services and I can confirm that work is already under way to examine the options open to the Scottish ministers after the current contract comes to an end. " | "It is of course necessary to plan for the future provision of ScotRail services and I can confirm that work is already under way to examine the options open to the Scottish ministers after the current contract comes to an end. " |
| 'Wrong choice' | 'Wrong choice' |
| Dominic Booth, managing director of Abellio UK, said the firm was "hugely disappointed" by the decision and it was the "wrong choice for Scotland's Railway and its customers". | |
| He said: "Abellio has invested more than £475m in new and upgraded trains, added 23% more seats for customers and created more than 500 extra jobs in Scotland since the start of the franchise in 2015 - the biggest investment in trains and stations in over 150 years. | He said: "Abellio has invested more than £475m in new and upgraded trains, added 23% more seats for customers and created more than 500 extra jobs in Scotland since the start of the franchise in 2015 - the biggest investment in trains and stations in over 150 years. |
| "Our offer to Transport Scotland would have delivered an improved service for our customers at a reduced cost to the taxpayer." | "Our offer to Transport Scotland would have delivered an improved service for our customers at a reduced cost to the taxpayer." |
| But Scottish Labour welcomed the decision, which follows a campaign by the party to end the franchise early. | But Scottish Labour welcomed the decision, which follows a campaign by the party to end the franchise early. |
| Colin Smyth, the party's transport spokesman, said: "For years Scottish Labour have campaigned to end Abellio's shambolic spell in charge of Scotland's railway. | Colin Smyth, the party's transport spokesman, said: "For years Scottish Labour have campaigned to end Abellio's shambolic spell in charge of Scotland's railway. |
| "Twice Scottish Labour have forced votes on Abellio's control of Scotrail and time and time again we have been voted down by the SNP, ably supported by the Tories." | "Twice Scottish Labour have forced votes on Abellio's control of Scotrail and time and time again we have been voted down by the SNP, ably supported by the Tories." |
| "What we now must know is if the Scottish government intend to make a serious public sector bid for control of ScotRail or whether our railways will be flogged off once more to a foreign-based private company, focused only on profit." | "What we now must know is if the Scottish government intend to make a serious public sector bid for control of ScotRail or whether our railways will be flogged off once more to a foreign-based private company, focused only on profit." |
| Mr Symth said "nothing less" than a publicly-owned rail system would deliver an efficient and reliable public transport system. | Mr Symth said "nothing less" than a publicly-owned rail system would deliver an efficient and reliable public transport system. |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Mike Rumbles said: "Passengers are sick to the back teeth of the poor service that has been provided by this company. | Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Mike Rumbles said: "Passengers are sick to the back teeth of the poor service that has been provided by this company. |
| "Overcrowding, endless cancellations, stop skipping and delays have gone on too long. | "Overcrowding, endless cancellations, stop skipping and delays have gone on too long. |
| "The government must now take action to make sure that there is stronger protection for customers in the future franchise agreement." | "The government must now take action to make sure that there is stronger protection for customers in the future franchise agreement." |
| Mr Rumbles also called for the inclusion of more break points in the new contract to ensure there is a much better chance to addressing poor performance earlier. | Mr Rumbles also called for the inclusion of more break points in the new contract to ensure there is a much better chance to addressing poor performance earlier. |
| 'Admission of failure' | |
| Scottish Conservative shadow transport minister Jamie Greene described the termination of the contract as "an admission of absolute failure" by the SNP. | |
| He added: "These have been wasted years for Scotland's train services, and now we have the risk of the quality of services nosediving even further. | |
| "Commuters have had to ensure delays, cancellations and uncomfortable journeys - often for an eye-watering price. | |
| "The SNP have pulled the rug from under the feet of the franchise holder, have no clue who will be running our railway post 2022 and have many questions to answer over the uncertain future of Scotland's rail." | |
| Kevin Lindsay, organiser for the train drivers' trade union Aslef in Scotland, claimed Abellio had let down passengers and staff. | |
| He added: "Those of us on the front line - ScotRail train drivers and other railway staff - can see every day how the company comes up short. | |
| "We are disappointed that the SNP government has not grasped the real problem - and the solution to that problem - and simply taken this opportunity to bring Scotland's railway back into public ownership. | |
| "The truth is that the franchise model is a broken business model. It hasn't worked, it doesn't work and it will not work. Everyone on the railway understands that." |