11 January 2023
RMT Press Office:
Rail union RMT today called on the Scottish government to take the Caledonian Sleeper into public ownership.
Private contractor Serco are due to have their contract to run the service terminated in June this year.
However the Scottish government has not announced who will take over or if they will take it into public ownership, like they have with Scotrail.
The latest accounts for Serco Caledonian Sleeper were published this week and reveal that in 2021-22 the company reported a profit after tax of £7.5m. The accounts also state that new contractual arrangements beyond June 2023 include a ‘potential direct award to the Company’.
This could mean the Scottish Government is lining Serco up for a new contract, despite having a public sector operator structure in place, which is running ScotRail services.
Under any future contract, the Scottish Government would take on all cost and revenue risk and pay Serco a fee, funded from public money for running services.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The Caledonian Sleeper is a vital part of the travel infrastructure between England and Scotland.
“It must be taken into public ownership so a first class service can be provided which will encourage the travelling public to use rail for overnight journeys.
“The system of contracting out is corrupt, with public money used as a means to ensure profits and shareholder dividends.
"The Scottish government must do the right thing and bring the Caledonian Sleeper into public ownership as soon as possible."
END
Notes:
A debate in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 12th January has been secured by Richard Leonard MSP on the Caledonian Sleeper Service - https://bb.parliament.scot/#20230112
The Scottish Government hasn’t said how the fees for Caledonian Sleeper’s current Temporary Measures Agreement (which runs until June 2023) will be calculated or how much it stands to make in fees during this period.
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