Bringing ScotRail into public hands was supposed to herald a new dawn.
On the day ownership changed, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the move was “historic and momentous”.
It was supposed to be – in her words – a “real opportunity to deliver a railway which is for the nation, and fully focused on being run for the benefit of its users – customers, staff and stakeholders, as opposed to shareholders”.
The reality has not matched the rhetoric. A pay dispute between train drivers’ union Aslef and ScotRail led to drivers not working on rest days.
The row led to the imposition of a temporary timetable and the cancellation of hundreds of services.
Passengers, rather than seeing the benefits of a transformed service, have had to put up with a shambles.
So it was positive to learn yesterday an improved pay offer was tabled and accepted by Aslef’s negotiating team.
It will now be for the union’s members and executive to have the final say.
The truth is, however, that ScotRail and the Scottish Government should have resolved this quicker.
The original offer to drivers was derisory and never going to be accepted, particularly in light of rising inflation.
Ministers make the right noises about fair pay – but on this occasion their actions have sparked avoidable and damaging industrial action.
The result has been a railway system in crisis. Having got some commuters to ditch the car and take the train, this squabble has convinced many the only way to be sure you get to work is by road.
They may never rely on the train again – and that is a tragedy for Scotland’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and help save the planet.
In this dispute, there have been no winners.
Back cig ban plan
Scotland has led the way in reducing the harm caused by smoking.
The indoor ban which consigned smoke-filled pubs and other public places to history was first introduced here in 2005.
At the time, sceptics claimed many Scots would simply ignore it.
But the fact is it’s almost impossible to imagine a return to a world where it was acceptable for a stranger to smoke next to you in a bar or nightclub.
Now an independent review has urged the UK Government to raise the legal age at which people can buy tobacco year by year, so that eventually no one can buy them.
Under the plan, the age of sale would rise from 18 by one year every 12 months so the children of today will never be allowed to buy tobacco.
It’s a bold move but one that could save countless lives.
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