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The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Trump is out to destroy the rules-based world order
The rules-based world order established at Bretton Woods in 1944, which America and Europe have been defending against authoritarian regimes seeking to change it fundamentally in their favour, is now being destroyed by the very United States who constructed it, led by a President whose knowledge of the world outside New York real estate hustling is non-existent. The United States has had a mix in its presidents, but none until now has ever qualified as the world's number one ignoramus. I cannot help in the situation we see unfolding in the Middle East, where western involvement has a record of leaving turmoil and bitterness behind it, contemplating the words of Burns: 'forward tho' I canna see, I guess and fear.' Jim Sillars, Edinburgh. Read more letters Dreading our rail future Is the long-running rail rumour to be proved right? That the replacements for our current long-distance fleet are to be Class 222 Meridians? The transport stars seem to be aligning that way. Let me pour scorn on these 222s, as well as asking the question: why are we in Scotland being landed with such shoddy trains for service on what should be our premier lines? These 'new' long-distance trains are actually third-hand, having passed through Midland Main Line and East Midlands Railways. What's their quality? 'Cramped, noisy, smelly. They're crap.' These five dismissive words belong to a noted planning director, someone well acquainted with railway work. My own experience with Class 222 Meridians is of incessant racket from vibrating underfloor engines, chemical toilets that stink, a body shell that severely restricts passenger space, and a general air of the thoroughly shabby. I was stuck in Derby Station for an hour last year, and it proved deeply depressing seeing these contemptible trains in action. Actually using them proved worse, starting with basics such as lack of luggage space. When ScotRail introduced the current long-distance fleet of HSTs (High Speed Trains), there were grouses that they were half a century old. True, but thanks to their design, these same trains have proved themselves winners down two generations. They're sturdy, fast, quiet, right for the job, and possess legroom, bike spaces, luggage areas and real toilets. Their style and speed engender pride in our nation. Yet ScotRail and its inept overseer Transport Scotland now bleat that HSTs are 'expensive to run and maintain'. If this is true, why were HSTs acquired in the first place? Away back in 1989, a most awful fleet of trains designated for Scotland's long-distance work was rolled out, the utterly contemptible 158s and 170s (the latter were initially christened Turbostars, a name scarcely worthy of The Beano). It took 34 years of campaigning to rid ourselves of this rubbish. Throughout, Transport Scotland proved blind and deaf to the fact that the same type of train serving what should be our premier long-distance routes of Glasgow/Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness was actually the same Dinky toy that trundled the commuter service to Cumbernauld. So who in Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government is responsible for considering these Meridians? Why might the leadership of our nation settle for the cheap and nasty? If Class 222 Meridians are so wonderful, why is East Midlands Railways so keen to get rid of them? A final question: has our nation become Glaikit Scotland, a land of numpties so lacking in gumption that we'll meekly accept long-distance trains foisted on us that utterly lack in every area of real rail quality? Gordon Casely, Crathes. Just picture, a lot of rubbish This might help Jane Lax (Letters, June 18) picture what 600,000 tons of waste looks like. A ton of waste is one cubic metre so if Jane can imagine a pile of used nappies, tattie peelings, empty baked bean tins and other sundry detritus that is about four miles long, 30 feet high and 30ft wide she won't be far away. Although she should be, because the pong will be something else. Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven. Scotland's ban on sending municipal waste to landfill is due to come into effect at the end of the year (Image: Colin Mearns) A waste of effort I write in response to Catherine Hunter's recent article ('Call for more education on recycling as Glasgow rated among worst for action', The Herald, June 12). I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment expressed. However, I recently visited Dawsholm Recycling Centre, where I carefully distributed the material I had brought in the appropriately designated areas only to see a bulldozer move the garden waste and mix it with the non-recyclable material. I note in your article that a Glasgow City Council spokesman had said that 'substantial investment is being made in improving recycling services in Glasgow'. Perhaps, in addition to educating the public, the council should pay attention to what is happening on its own premises. Ian Watson, Glasgow. Heartbroken Several correspondents have written of the delights of Walter Scott. At school, every couple of months, we had to read a book and write a critical review. Returning from a family weekend, in Glencoe, halfway down Loch Lomond side, my normally laid-back brother announced in a panic-stricken voice that he had to hand in a book review, first period on Monday and he had not read the book. "What book?" my mother asked. "Heart of Midlothian," wailed John. David Hay, Minard.
The Herald Scotland
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scot Gov declines to reveal cost of Intercity bids process
Asked for comment, leading rail union ASLEF has said the government must be transparent in its dealings and ensure that any purchases benefit taxpayers. Transport Scotland announced in December that the Intercity fleet, which consists of 25 high speed trains (HSTs) serving routes between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness; would be replaced. However, six months later, details of the bidding process are scarce. Scot Gov refused to provide details of the procurement process (Image: Jane Barlow/PA).According to Public Contracts Scotland, the deadline for bidding on the contract was 3 February, while selected candidates were invited to submit tenders on 3 March. The procurement notice states that a contract is expected to be awarded by 28 November, running until 31 December 2035. Responding to our FOI request, the Scottish Government declined to share any details of the firms involved, informing The Herald: 'Please note that due to the sensitivity of the commercial information related to the replacement of the High Speed Trains, some commercial details of this procurement would be considered confidential, as releasing them would or would likely substantially harm ScotRail's economic interests.' When asked to provide details of the cost incurred since the procurement process began, the government wrote: 'It would not be possible to ascertain with confidence how much has been spent so far, as preparation for any exercise of such a scale involves a staff cost element (including Scottish Government, ScotRail Trains and Scottish Rail Holdings employees) and it would not be possible to attribute this element with accuracy.' However, The Herald has been told that the search for bids, expected to last 12 months, is going according to schedule. Train drivers' union ASLEF has weighed in (Image: Danny Lawson/PA).Train drivers' union ASLEF has called on the government to commit to more transparency going forward. Scottish Organiser Kevin Lindsay told The Herald: 'Our members wish to see a fleet which meets with modern crashworthiness standards. 'Transparency should be at the heart of the Scottish Government's procurement process. Procurement processes to replace rolling stock should always benefit the taxpayer, not the rolling stock companies.' Lindsay went on to say that any future procurements should be carried out using the government's existing borrowing powers, instead of relying on 'profiteering' rolling stock companies. The union boss previously wrote to then-Transport Minister Kevin Stewart in April 2023, urging him to replace 'antiquated' HSTs with modern 222s units, which were described as 'safe and clean'. However, these suggestions were dismissed 'out of hand' at the hand, according to the union. Concerns over the 50-year-old fleet were raised in the wake of the deadly Carmont rail crash west of Stonehaven, which tragically claimed the lives of Christopher Stuchbury, Donald Dinnie and Brett McCullough in August 2020. Three years later, a driver's cabin was crushed after a HST struck a fallen tree in December 2023 near Broughty Ferry. While the train's driver was able to shelter behind his seat, the safety of the aging fleet was again brought into question. The deadly Carmont crash led to questions over the future of the HST fleet. Now, a new report released by ASLEF, entitled 'A Vision for Financing Scotland's Railways', states that the government could save the taxpayer millions of pounds if they use green bonds (funds earmarked for environmental projects) to pay for the new fleet. The report's co-author Professor Andrew Cumbers, of Glasgow University, said the government could save as much as £362m. He remarked: 'Our research suggests that funding the next generation of rolling stock directly through the Scottish Government's existing borrowing powers, using Green Bonds, could be as much as 70% cheaper than through private finance. 'For the next order of suburban passenger trains, we have calculated that savings of at least £144m and up to £362m (compared to a private finance deal) could be made. 'Rather than leaking out of the system to fund private profits, this revenue could be used to reduce ticket prices and invest further in the country's transport infrastructure, while creating local jobs and training opportunities.' Read more from Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco: Top Scottish universities to review trans policies after Supreme Court ruling Drivers racked up £1.7m in LEZ fines since 2023, figures show Aberdeen City Council's £1m law bill revealed amidst spate of legal challenges Responding to The Herald's request for comment, ScotRail declined to say how many firms were involved in the procurement process. ScotRail Strategy & Planning Director Scott Prentice noted: 'We know the high-speed trains have been popular with customers on routes connecting Scotland's eight cities, but replacing the oldest trains in our fleet is essential to encouraging more people to choose rail over car travel. 'Replacing these trains will improve service reliability and fleet availability, delivering better journeys for customers across the country. It also means more trains will be available for service each day for customers in Fife, the Borders, and between Aberdeen and Inverness. 'This is a key step in our wider plan to modernise the fleet in partnership with Transport Scotland and Network Rail.'
