ALLRAIL remarks how the Scottish government cancelled competitive tendering among public and private operators and reverted to a state-owned operator with a directly awarded exclusive contract subsidised by the Scottish taxpayer….

But ticket prices have risen at more than double the rate of inflation. Hundreds of services were cut as part of a ‘temporary’ timetable that lasted four months. No new trains have been ordered, leaving Scotland with one of Europe’s oldest and most polluting rail fleets. Punctuality has worsened compared to the previous competitively tendered service.