CALMAC has told MPSs it would like to take over Scotland’s trains.
The firm’s chairman David McGibbon told Holyrood’s Economy and Communities Committee that the company had indicated to Transport Scotland it was interested in the possibility of taking over the rail network.
The Scottish Government is examining the suitability of existing public bodies to make a bid for the franchise or whether to create a new public transport organisation for this.
McGibbon said: “We’ve not had detailed conversations but we’ve indicated to Transport Scotland that we are willing to talk.”
CalMac manager Robbie Drummond added: “We have indicated our interest in having a discussion with Transport Scotland about the possibility of us operating a rail service.”
Bosses also yesterday apologised to travellers for what they described as the worst disruption faced by the company in ten years.
Drummond told MSPs the terms of the contract set by Transport Scotland and Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited means, currently, all vessels are in use over the summer with no relief vessel available in the event of problems.
That meant repairs had to happen now.
The company also admitted they had also struggled to find new ferries suitable for Scottish waters. Work on two new ships under construction at Port Glasgow has been delayed. The ferries won’t come into service until winter.
Drummond told the committee: “We’ve committed to Transport Scotland, along with Cmal, to continue looking for vessels.
“But as none has emerged in six years that are suitable, there isn’t a high expectation that any will emerge in the next six years. But we will continue with that process because there may be one emerging, in which case that may offer a shortcut to providing some additional resilience.
“The most likely and obvious way to bring resilience in is to build more vessels,” he added.
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