Trains run by the public sector have returned to the domestic network in Scotland for the first time since March 1997, after the Abellio contract with the Scottish Government ended at 02.00 this morning.
The RMT has called for Caledonian Sleeper, which is run by Serco, to be taken back into public ownership as well.
The first ScotRail franchise, owned by National Express, started operating at the end of that month, but history was reversed early today as Abellio was forced to relinquish what could have been a 12-year contract from 2015.
Continuing performance problems strained the relationship between Abellio and the Scottish Government, and the Government announced on 18 December 2019 that the operation would be terminated on 31 March 2022, by taking advantage of a break point in the contract.
On 17 March 2021 the Government said the termination of the Abellio contract at the end of March 2022 would not be followed by a replacement franchise or a direct award. Instead, ScotRail is being operated by a new company owned by the Scottish Government, and has effectively been renationalised.
The RMT union is calling for the remaining Scottish operating contract to be ended as well. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘Internal documents confirm that not only does the Scottish Government have the necessary structures in place to bring the Caledonian Sleeper into public ownership, it would only take around 12 weeks to do so.
'RMT is demanding that the Scottish Government cut ties with Serco and deploys the necessary arrangements to bring the Caledonian Sleeper into public ownership as a matter of urgency. This is the best way to provide value for money and stability for Scottish passengers and taxpayers and ensure that all revenue is reinvested in improving the network, rather than being paid out in fees.'
ScotRail will join three former English franchises which have already returned to the public sector. They are LNER, Northern and most recently Southeastern. Transport for Wales Rail has also become a publicly owned operation, although it does include a partnership between TfW, Keolis and Amey.