ScotRail plans cuts to remove poor performers

摘要

SCOTRAIL can expect a rough ride from its proposals to cut more than 300 under-used services from its timetable from May 2022, but it believes they are entirely justified. Root-and-branch analysis conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic has identified what the operator claims is considerable overcapacity on some routes. It says it can save taxpayers up to £40 million a year. The operator is under pressure from the Scottish Government to reduce its costs after receiving £400 million emergency support over 18 months, when 90% of its passenger business was lost. ScotRail will come under state control when Abellio hands back the keys early next year. But the RMT union, currently in dispute with ScotRail over extra reward for its members' efforts during the lockdown, has registered its anger at the threat to jobs, elderly and disabled people. It claims that any service cuts will turn people back to their cars, increasing pollution.