“The best deal for Scotland is a People’s ScotRail” – Murphy announces rail plans

Jim Murphy has announced his preference for a non-profit organisation, People’s Scotrail, running Scotland’s railways.

The Scottish Parliament will gain extra powers – devolved through the Smith Agreement – that include allowing a non-profit organisation to bid to run Scotland’s railways. Murphy has backed this idea.

This comes after the SNP awarded the contract to a firm run by the Dutch Government – despite Scottish Labour calling for a halt to the ScotRail franchising process until the Scottish Government had more powers post-Smith Commission.

Jim Murphy explained why he thought this was the best way forward for the Scottish railways:

“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.”