Composite F (Covering Motions 26 & 27)
A Better Railway for Scotland
“That this Congress recognises that rail is a sustainable form of travel that is vital for meeting Scotland’s climate change targets. Congress believes that properly staffed rail networks with well maintained and high-quality infrastructure are essential for making the railway safe, secure and accessible for all.
‘‘Congress believes that as well as privatisation and lack of sufficient investment the biggest barrier to a better railway has been the fragmentation of the network with the damaging separation of operations and infrastructure and staff being employed by a multitude of companies, including through outsourcing and subcontracting.
“Congress welcomes the Labour Party commitment to bring the railways back into public ownership under a unified structure, if elected, and also the decisions of the Scottish Government to bring Scotrail and the Caledonian Sleeper into public ownership.
‘‘Congress acknowledges that last year the decision was taken for the Caledonian Sleeper to remain a separate entity to ScotRail being part of the public sector via an arm’s length company ScotRail Holdings.
‘‘Congress sees this decision as unnecessary and bureaucratic. It is also at a cost to Scottish taxpayers who foot the bill for an additional set of senior executives’ salaries at Caledonian Sleeper. We therefore call for the immediate merger of this service into ScotRail.
‘‘Congress considers rail freight to be an integral part of Scotland meeting net-zero targets and is of huge economic and environmental importance. The expansion of rail freight is a key element of the Scottish Government’s national transport strategy and should be achieved by the introduction of a publicly owned freight operator.
“Congress believes that we will have to fight to realise our objective of a wholly integrated railway in public ownership.
‘‘Therefore, noting that 2024 will be a UK General Election year and 2026 will see Scottish Parliament elections, Congress calls on the General Council to campaign for:
- a single, unified, nationally integrated GB rail network, with significantly enhanced powers for the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government over rail services in Scotland;
- the Caledonian sleeper operation to be integrated into ScotRail services to provide a fully publicly owned passenger service;
- the creation of a nationalised freight operator to increase freight traffic in Scotland, optimise efficiency, develop the economy and improve sustainability;
- an end to outsourcing, casualisation and subcontracting;
- increased investment and expansion of capacity, also ensuring the protection of infrastructure jobs and skills;
- an end to driver only operation, no ticket office closures or cuts and an expansion of staff on stations and trains, including catering staff;
- respect for rail staff with real action and legislation to reduce assaults on staff, with tougher penalties for those who assault rail workers; and
- objectives contained in the joint rail union report “A Vison for Scotland’s Railways.”
Mover: Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen
Seconder: National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Unions
RSS