In-depth report argues the Franchise system should be dismantled, with the railways run as a public service as part of an integrated transport strategy

SCOTLAND needs a fully publicly owned and operated rail system to meet the needs of rail users, a new report published by Common Weal and the Transport Union TSSA  has argued.

Transport Scotland says strike action ‘disappointing’ 

THE SCOTTISH Government should step in to ‘force’ operator Abellio into negotiations ahead of tomorrow’s planned strike, trade unionists have said. 

With talks having broken down between the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and Scotrail Abellio ahead of the union’s planned strike, the Scottish Trades Union Congress general secretary has called on the Scottish Government to bring the operator back to negotiations. 

Train drivers union Aslef says that new contractors Abellio have not been negotiating fairly

SUNDAY rail services in Scotland are set to be reduced due to an ongoing pay dispute with drivers, leading to calls for the government to take back the Scotrail franchise.

Train drivers union Aslef has said Dutch company Abellio, which was controversially awarded the Scotrail contract by the Scottish Government last year, has not been negotiating fairly.

The Abellio chief executive has been dismissed from his post over "irregularies"

THE RMT has called for a public inquiry into the awarding of the Scotrail franchise to Abellio after scandal hit its parent company Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS).

Abellio chief executive Jeff Hoogesteger was dismissed from his post last Friday without severance pay, following reports of irregularities and dawn raids at NS. He had been based at Abellio's Glasgow office.

Access to major railway stations, loneliness on Islay and gaelic twitter day - just some of the issues in the Holyrood diary

Last chance to see the Incredible Power of Light Exhibition

This inspiring free family-friendly exhibition continues at the Scottish Parliament until 30 April 2015.

Access to major railway stations under investigation

The Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee is investigating access to Scotland's major urban railway stations and is calling for the views of members of the public.

Poll also finds support for another independence referendum in the next five years

VOTERS in Scotland support more powers for the Scottish Parliament and are keen to see the railways brought back into public ownership.

The survey, results of which was partially released on Tuesday (click here to read more), asked Scots about their policy priorities ahead of May's General Election.

The latest findings suggest that voters want to see powers for Scotland going beyond the ones which were recommended in the Smith Commission.

Current UK laws prevent the franchise coming into public ownership, despite the fact a Dutch state-owned company now runs the Scottish railway service

NEW ScotRail operator Abellio has begun its first day of operations, but already the Scottish Government faces renewed calls for the railways to be brought into public ownership by the Scottish Green party.

The Smith Commission has recommended that the Scottish government should have the power to "allow public sector operators to bid for rail franchises funded and specified by Scottish Ministers". That means that the Scottish government can bid to take the railways back into public ownership. In other words, renationalisation.