TRADE union RMT will be holding a rally outside Glasgow’s Queen Street railway station today as ScotRail return to public ownership.

Members of the union will be calling for a pay increase and the nationalisation of the Caledonian Sleeper.

This comes as ScotRail transferred from Dutch firm Abellio into public ownership today.

Mick Hogg, the union’s Scotland director, welcomed the renationalisation of the network.

He said on Good Morning Scotland: “No longer will there be private shareholders receiving dividends or any profits from Scotland’s railway, so in that sense, we believe there a great opportunity for Scotland’s railway to receive the proper investment that it deserves.” 

Mr Hogg said the transport minister was “ticking all the right boxes as far as the RMT is concerned and she does not want an industrial strife”, he told the BBC Radio Scotland programme.

But, he added, he didn’t see it as “unreasonable” for his members, who he said deserved medals for their work through the pandemic, “to receive a fair pay increase”.

“Our members are telling me loud and clear that we deserve and want a decent pay increase,” he told the broadcaster.

READ MORE: Why are Glasgow private rents rising in Glasgow?

General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “ RMT is demanding that the Scottish Government cut ties with Serco and deploys the necessary arrangements to bring the Caledonian Sleeper into public ownership as a matter of urgency.

"This is the best way to provide value for money and stability for Scottish passengers and taxpayers and ensure that all revenue is reinvested in improving the network, rather than being paid out in fees to private operator Serco.”

To celebrate ScotRail's transition, children will be able to ride the trains for free on Saturday and Sunday if accompanied by a fee-paying adult.