SUBSIDIES for rail passengers in Scotland have grown faster than south of the Border over last three years, prompting calls for the Scottish Government to cut the cost of the rail network.
SUBSIDIES for rail passengers in Scotland have grown faster than south of the Border over last three years, prompting calls for the Scottish Government to cut the cost of the rail network.
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DAMIEN HENDERSON Transport Correspondent
New figures show Government cash support for First ScotRail, which operates more than 95% of passenger services in Scotland, has leapt by 37% since 2009 to £305 million.
The hike has left taxpayers paying 11.4p for every kilometre travelled by a ScotRail passenger, up from 8.6p in 2009, and is in stark contrast to the 16 private train operating companies managed under franchise agreements by the Department for Transport, which have seen overall subsidy levels reversed during the same period.
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