CALEDONIAN TAKEN IN-HOUSE

RMT hailed a new beginning for the Caledonian Sleeper service following the Scottish government's decision to take it into public ownership.

The union played a pivotal role in campaigning for the low carbon London to Scotland service being taken into public ownership after being poorly handled by private contractors.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that with all of its rail passenger services now in public ownership, the Scottish government needed to commence the long-awaited national conversation on rail without delay.

"At the heart of this must be investment in expanding and improving services, ruling out cuts to ticket offices and properly staffing Scotland’s railway to make it accessible for all," he said.

"This approach from Eurostar is a far cry away from the train operating companies who want to cut thousands of jobs, close hundreds of ticket offices and offer us a measly pay deal.

"RMT has negotiated pay deals on every part of the railway where the Department of Transport does not have the mandate over the rail operators,” he said.