Letter to ScotRail Stakeholders

Tue, 31 Mar 2015

Good afternoon,

Operations at First ScotRail will transfer tomorrow to a new franchise run by Abellio, while the new Caledonian Sleeper franchise will be run by Serco from tonight.

First ScotRail has enjoyed a fantastic near-11 years successfully delivering Scotland's railways, and it is with a great sense of pride that FirstGroup leave Scotland's railways in good shape for the next leg of the journey.

Passenger numbers are at an all-time high, with nearly 90 million passenger journeys a year, and passenger satisfaction at record equalling levels. To ensure a smooth transition, I will continue to lead at ScotRail until the 1st of May, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our stakeholders for your engagement and support over the years.

The transformation in rail travel in Scotland could not have been achieved without your input.

I also wish to place on record my thanks to all our employees at First ScotRail for their commitment and dedication in delivering the highest standards of service for passengers.

I can assure you that we have worked hard with the new franchisees to ensure a smooth transition for everyone as they prepare to take on the responsibility of running Scotland's railways.

I wish all our stakeholders - and Abellio - every success for the future.

Kind regards,
Steve Montgomery
Managing Director, ScotRail