UK: The Scottish government has extended the Emergency Measures Agreements for the ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper franchises until December.
The EMAs put in place in March this year ran from April 1 to September 19. Under the extended agreements the two operators will continue to receive payments to cover operating costs as necessary because of reduced revenues, with a ‘small’ performance-based incentive payment.
The extensions continue the ‘extraordinary level’ of financial support provided during the pandemic, Transport Minister Graeme Dey said on September 20.
‘We know our train operators are doing all they can to encourage passengers back to Scotland’s Railway and we will work with the rail industry and the UK government during the coming months to understand the ongoing impact of the outbreak and the contractual arrangements required after December 2021’, he explained. ‘It is recognised that the current exceptional levels of support are not likely to be financially sustainable beyond the pandemic period.’
