16 December 2016
RMT Press Office:
RMT calls on Scottish Government to stop bribing the public and start moves to renationalise rail.
RAIL UNION RMT has described the recent announcement of a £3 million pound subsidy for fare reductions on Abellio Scotrail by the Scottish government as a bribe and reissued it’s call for the essential transport service to be brought back into pubic ownership.
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has said that £3 million of targeted rail fare reductions announced in the budget will be a “thank you” to passengers for their "patience".
The subsidy comes after operator ScotRail has faced heavy criticism for late and cancelled trains, being ordered to implement an improvement plan by government agency Transport Scotland and facing calls from campaigners for its Dutch parent firm Abellio to be stripped of the franchise.
Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said:
“The Scottish government have resorted to bribing passengers with a fare reduction in the face of growing public anger at Abellio Scotrail’s inability to deliver a high quality service as it attempts to squeeze every ounce of profit from the enterprise.
“Bringing our railways back under public ownership is the answer, not this short sighted bribe by a transport minister who is under the cosh to sort this shambles out.”
Ends.
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