Please Share...... Leading Scottish transport firm FirstGroup loses ScotRail franchise 08 October 2014 07:27 BST ScotRail: FirstGroup loses £2.5bn franchise. Leading Scottish transport firm FirstGroup has lost the franchise to operate ScotRail services. The Aberdeen-based firm confirmed it had been informed by Transport Scotland that it would cease to operate the trains in April 2015. It is understood the £2.5bn ten-year franchise will be handed to publicly-owned Dutch firm Abellio. Tim O’Toole, FirstGroup chief executive, said: “Our bid would have delivered even greater levels of service and growth, and we are disappointed we will not have the opportunity to implement the credible plans we submitted, building on our record of improvement across every measurable score, for the benefit of ScotRails passengers and employees. “We shall continue to operate First ScotRail until the new franchise commences on 1 April 2015. Until that time we will deliver further enhancements to trains and stations including further free Wi-Fi and continue important work to enable the extension of smart ticketing across the whole country and the opening of the Borders Railway next year.” Rail union RMT general secretary Mick Cash raised concerns that the ScotRail franchise could be handed to a foreign firm. Mr Cash said: Scotland could have taken control of its own railways, instead they have opted to go Dutch, meaning that profits will be sucked out of the system to underpin investment and fares in Holland. It is a disgraceful and shameful betrayal of the Scottish people and makes a mockery of promises made both before and immediately after the referendum vote. RMT will continue the fight for public ownership with every means at our disposal. In a statement on its Facebook page, ScotRail said it was disappointed about the decision but was proud of what the groups had achieved
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 08:32:59 +0000