Murphy Wants 'People's ScotRail'

Scotland's railways would be returned to the public sector in a new non-profit ScotRail franchise under Labour, leader Jim Murphy has pledged. A new People's ScotRail'' would provide cheaper rail services with financial returns ploughed back into the Scottish public purse rather than going to foreign companies or shareholders, he said. The Smith Agreement will devolve powers to the Scottish Parliament to allow a non-profit, public sector organisation to bid to run Scotland's railways. Labour called for the suspension of the the current ScotRail franchise until after the power is devolved. It was awarded to Dutch government-owned firm Abellio in October amid SNP warnings that a suspension would have cost the Scottish Government millions and could have brought trains to a standstill. Mr Murphy said:I want to see better, cheaper public transport. The Smith Agreement means we can have a ScotRail that is serving commuters, not shareholders. The current ScotRail franchise sees money going straight from the public purse to shareholders' pockets."The incoming one will see Scottish public money support transport infrastructure in Holland." Neither deal is the best deal for Scotland when commuters are waiting on late-running services, paying over-inflated fares whilst being squeezed against train doors on overcrowded journeys."The best deal for Scotland is a People's ScotRail, a railway company whose commitment is not to a group of shareholders or a foreign government, but to the people of Scotland.''