TSSA slams ScotRail "Covid profiteering"

TSSA today condemned Abellio and Serco for "Covid profiteering" as research revealed private rail companies in Scotland are set to make over £28 million profit under Covid-19 Emergency Measures Agreements.

Research released today by the RMT shows that under the Emergency Measures Agreements which end in January 2021, private Train Operating Companies Abellio ScotRail and Serco Caledonian Sleeper are set to share nearly £13million in profits, whilst Rolling Stock Companies may have made more than £15m profit. This is equivalent to a 7.4% cut in ticket prices.

Manuel Cortes, TSSA General Secretary, said: “Right now Abellio and Serco should be issuing Scottish tax-payers and rail customers an apology and a refund. This is shameless Covid profiteering, handing public money to their shareholders at a time of national crisis.

“Keeping the trains running during the pandemic is absolutely essential and it was right for the Scottish government to issue the Emergency Measures Agreements. Yet unbelievably, whilst frontline rail workers have put their lives on the line keeping the trains running, the fat cats at the top have been raking in the profits.

“This pandemic has shown that railways are an essential public service and should be run in the public sector.

“The Labour government in Wales has shown that it’s possible for a devolved Government to take rail services in public ownership. Now it’s time for Scotland to follow their lead."

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Notes to Editors

RMT’s research can be found here https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-research-reveals-extent-of-scottish-rail-companies-covid/