Rail industry boss slams ScotRail nationalisation as 'ideologically driven'

Chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Rail, Neil Robertson, said he believed nationalising ScotRail was done for political rather than economic reasons and could be a “disaster” for future investment because of politicians’ short-term outlook.

The Scottish-born transport chief cast doubt on the wisdom of launching an “ideologically driven” hydrogen train project when similar schemes were already underway south of the border.

He warned nationalist attitudes such as the hydrogen project created 'cost issues' and said 'collaboration' was more useful.

Mr Robertson said: "The transfer appears to be based on political rather than economic criteria.

"It’s interesting to note that the only area of overall productivity growth has been in private rail operations.

“Will public ownership translate into long-term plans with long-term resourcing attached to it?

"Historically, it hasn’t.

"The bits of rail that are in the public sector have had the highest levels of uncertainty historically.

"It’s interesting to note that the only area of overall productivity growth has been in private rail operations.”

He said privately-run train operators had invested in “longer, faster, better” new trains, which had helped to attract more passengers.

Mr Robertson also questioned why Scotland had embarked on developing its own hydrogen-powered train, in a project involving Scottish Enterprise, the University of St Andrews and Arcola Energy, now Ballard Motive Solutions.

He said: "They would be much better to put their energies into a collaboration, but it’s classic Scottish politics at the moment – if the button wasn’t pressed in Scotland, it doesn’t count, which is just creating cost issues for everybody.”

He added that a NSAR study to calculate the wider “social value” – such as jobs – of restoring the Levenmouth line was “really forward thinking and positive, and has encouraged others”.

Scottish Conservatives transport spokesperson Graham Simpson said: “Nationalising ScotRail was always about ideology rather than about service.

“I was asking the SNP what their plans for rail were before the transfer and I was clear they didn’t have one.

"That’s become even more obvious since.”

Scottish Labour MSP and chief whip Rhoda Grant said: “It’s all too clear that the Scottish Government, after years of opposing public ownership of ScotRail, have botched its nationalisation.

“Rail is an essential public service that should be publicly owned and run in the public interest.

“It’s high time that the Scottish Government learned from their mistakes, listened to experts and acted."

A spokesperson for Transport Scotland agency said: “Public ownership of ScotRail is a key milestone in our ambitious Programme for Government to support a greener, fairer, more prosperous Scotland.

"It represents an 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.

"ScotRail passenger services are a central plank in our ambitious decarbonisation plans, backed by £5 billion over the course of this Parliament, to support thriving, resilient and diverse communities.

“This includes exploration of the potential for rail to develop battery and hydrogen alternatives.

"Detailed plans will be developed in the medium to longer term, but our commitment is to remove all diesel passenger trains by 2035.

"Along with Scottish Enterprise, we’re supporting a £3.5 million pilot project led by St Andrews University to convert a retired Scotrail train to be powered by hydrogen fuel cell batteries, which is a really exciting piece of work and a great example of collaboration within Scotland.

“We also welcome recognition of our work to restore lines like Levenmouth and others, providing sustainable connectivity for communities across Scotland and attracting people to visit, live, work and invest in those areas.”