A UNION has demanded an inquiry after reports the newly-nationalised ScotRail was still paying its former operating company to run some support services.
TSSA called for the independent inquiry on Monday after reports that Dutch transport firm Abellio, which used to operate railways north of the border, will be running some services for the next three years, a move the union said would see the company earn millions.
Manuel Cortes, TSSA general secretary, said: “Three months since the end of their contract, failed franchiser Abellio are still making money from Scottish taxpayers. This is a disgrace.”
In December 2019 it was announced Abellio would be stripped of its contract to run ScotRail and earlier this year the service entered public ownership.
However, the union said services including a customer helpline, parts of ScotRail’s payroll department, rail replacement buses and taxis, and the management of station tenancies are still being run by the former operator.
Cortes said: “The Scottish Government have had more than two years to ensure that all Abellio’s contracts were ended at the same time.
“It is astonishing that a company that served Scottish passengers so badly are allowed to keep raking in the cash from the public purse.
“Enough is enough. I am demanding that an independent inquiry be set up into how Abellio have continued to. Scottish taxpayers deserve to know who is siphoning their money and why.”
Transport Scotland has been approached for comment.
