Why would some scottish train-operating companies like to run the regional track as well as the trains?

Question

If they have a local monopoly, what would they be gaining by running the tracks as well?

Answer 1

It is not quite that simple.

When the railways were nationalised, the industry wanted  "vertical integration", whereby the rail operating company was also responsible for track and signalling, with provision for other operators to have access, subject to controls set by the Office of the Rail Regulator.

It is not a  matter of monopoly, but good operating sense. At present, Network Rail has different priorities to the rail operating companies (witness the long term closure of some lines for upgrade work - such closures would not have been tolerated under British Rail).

The Island Line on the Isle of Wight was nationalised under vertical integration, because it was self contained.

Now, the "domestic" services of Scotland are operated by a single operator, First ScotRail. It is only on cross-border services that there is a second passenger operator. (ie Carlisle-Carstairs-Glasgow/Edinburgh, Carlisle-Dumfries-Glasgow, Berwick-Edinburgh-Dundee-Aberdeen).

Scotland would therefore be an ideal location to show the benefits of vertical integration. Since the Scottish rail franchise is now devolved to the Scottish Parliament, it was the Scottish Executive that re-opened the debate last year.

(Finally, there is only ONE Scottish rail operating company, First Scotrail. GNER and Virgin Trains, plus Arriva from 11 November, are English companies operating into Scotland)