Exclusive:ScotRail staff suspended over alleged 'back handers' for contracts
Train operator confirms independent investigation
ScotRail has launched an investigation amid claims that several staff have been suspended for allegedly taking “back handers” in exchange for contracts, The Scotsman has learned.
The enquiries are believed to centre on at least two members of the Scottish Government-owned train operator’s property services management team.
One industry source said a car may have been one of the gifts accepted.
Another source said the suspensions appeared to be part of an increasing trend of disciplinary action being taken against staff by the firm, which was nationalised nearly four years ago.
A further source said: “The property team was split up during a recent restructure and they are deeply upset about it, with complaints about poor leadership and lack of direction.
“Not a happy place. It’s like a soap opera.”
However, that description was disputed by another insider, who said there had been no change of direction.
The Scotsman has been given the names of two of the people thought to have been among those suspended, but ScotRail said it would not comment on individuals.
The first industry source said: “I'm told that several members of property services management at ScotRail have been suspended for taking ‘back handers’ in exchange for contracts.
“Names have been mentioned to me and supposedly a car was one of the gifts accepted.”
A second industry source said: “I'm aware that several staff were suspended before the Christmas break.
"There seems to be an uptick in the number of people at ScotRail who have faced disciplinary action, but I'm not sure if that's related to it now being part of the public sector.
"ScotRail seems to be acting more, where they may have previously swept things under the carpet."
However, one of the sources dismissed speculation that one of the suspensions was for a reason other than the contracts issue.
It is understood that the property team restructure followed the departure last April of safety, engineering and sustainability director David Lister, who left to become Scotland director for train leasing firm Porterbrook.
A ScotRail spokesperson said: “We can confirm that an independent investigation is ongoing. We wouldn’t comment on individuals.
“We are unable to make any further comment until the investigation process has been completed.”
Glasgow-based ScotRail employs more than 6,000 people.
Its nearly 800 trains operate up to nearly 2,300 services a day that serve more than 360 stations and carry nearly 85 million passengers a year.
The operator was taken into public ownership by ministers in 2022 after being the Scottish Government’s biggest single contract, worth some £500 million a year.
ScotRail was previously run by Dutch state railways offshoot Abellio, but its franchise was terminated early in a dispute over the cost of running the operation.
Last year, ScotRail was recognised as a “top employer” for the sixth time by the Top Employers Institute, with the certification demonstrating its “dedication to a better world of work”.
It covered areas such as people strategy, work environment, talent acquisition, learning, diversity, equity and inclusion, and wellbeing.
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