ScotRail is back in public ownership for the first time in 25 years.

The train operator will now be run by a company owned by the Scottish government.

The previous operator, Abellio, had its franchise ended early amid criticism of the quality of the service.

The UK’s rail network was privatised in the 90s by John Major’s Conservative government. Before Abellio, ScotRail was run by National Express and First Group.

Passengers should not see any significant changes in services right away, but the Scottish government said it was a new beginning for the railways.

All ScotRail staff will transfer to the new Scottish government-owned entity, and the move has been welcomed by trade unions.

However, critics say Scotland’s railways have just seen the biggest fare rise in a decade – and that some services now run less frequently than before the pandemic.

On Thursday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon insisted bringing ScotRail into public ownership was a “historic moment”.

She said ScotRail services, which cover all rail services which start and end within Scotland, would continue as normal.

But she said the change in ownership “provides an opportunity to modernise” and would help to “deliver passenger services which are efficient, sustainable, safe, fit for the future”.

To help with that, she pledged staff and travellers would be able to take part in a “national conversation” which would “contribute to the future vision” for the service.

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