Both the UK RMT and Aslef unions have expressed outrage regarding the Scottish government”s announcement last week to extend First ScotRail”s franchise agreement by three years up until 2014.
The initial franchise was awarded in 2004 for seven years, with a possible extension available depending on performance ” but the RMT said it wanted to know why ministers had pre-empted a study by Audit Scotland which was due to establish how well the company was doing.
”Last week”s hasty and hypocritical decision to extend the franchise is looking murkier by the minute,” said RMT general secretary Bob Crow. ”They would only have had to wait until October for the report”s findings, yet they have jumped the gun and committed Scottish taxpayers to another three years of subsidising First Group shareholders” dividend payouts.
”There is deep suspicion about the timing of this extension, which looks like it has more to do with shoring up First Group”s battered reputation south of the border.”
RMT also said the revenue sharing arrangement has shifted in favour of the operator, delivering Scotland a worse deal ” ScotRail must now split revenues 50/50 only after it has earned 10% rather than 2% above a target amount.
Aslef general secretary Keith Norman aimed his ire squarely at Scottish Nationalist (SNP) transport minister Stewart Stevenson, saying: ”To take a decision of this importance without mentioning it to anyone except his own cronies is utterly undemocratic and authoritarian.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman told ABTN: ”This was not are re-franchising where we would, of course, consult with unions and other interested parties. This was an extension within the existing contract, which was always anticipated by the franchise let in 2004. We have simply implemented this option.
”The commercially sensitive nature of the discussions with First ScotRail have precluded a wider discussion with interested parties. This was the very best time to maximise the performance of the current franchise and [maximise] the return to the Scottish Government, people and passengers.”
ScotRail said the extension was down to its performance levels ” ”It is a fitting tribute to the ongoing transformation which has seen improved performance, with a 50% reduction in delays, and a 19% increase in passenger numbers,” said the operator”s managing director Mary Dickson.
It also pointed out that as part of the extension more than ”70m ($140m) will be returned to the government ”to be spent on a host of new services and other enhancements for users of the Scottish rail network.”
Independent watchdog Passenger Focus welcomed Transport Scotland”s surprise decision.
”Scottish commuters and business users will welcome the benefits of services starting earlier and finishing later in the day from a variety of locations in Scotland to improve long distance connectivity, an extension of the 15min frequency between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and additional services from Inverness,” said Passenger Focus board member for Scotland, James King.