Payments to rail franchises under the Emergency Measures Agreements - March to September 2020
The tables below show a summary of all payments made to rail operators during this period.
In March 2020 the Scottish Government agreed temporary variations to the ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper Franchises to minimise disruption to passengers and rail employees. This ensured passenger services continued to operate during this period.
The EMAs covered the period from 1 March to September 2020. During this time the train operators received increased payments to cover operating costs, as necessary because of reduced revenues.
The move was intended to enable greater flexibility and transferring revenue and cost risk to the government during the COVID-19 outbreak.
How the costs are calculated
The figures are calculated on the basis of the shortfall between expected and actual revenues which are a direct result of the reduced number of services operating and passengers travelling during the ongoing pandemic.
These payments are made in addition to the regular franchise payments and are published at the end of each EMA.
Payments to franchised passenger rail operators under Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) in Scotland, March – September 20201
Total franchise payments under EMA2 in £million
| Time period | ScotRail payments | Caledonian Sleeper payments | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 Period 13 | 71.5 | 2.8 | 74.4 |
| 2020-21 Period 1 | 70.0 | 2.6 | 72.6 |
| 2020-21 Period 2 | 53.0 | 4.1 | 57.0 |
| 2020-21 Period 3 | 76.1 | 5.3 | 81.5 |
| 2020-21 Period 4 | 73.7 | 3.0 | 76.7 |
| 2020-21 Period 5 | 69.1 | 3.0 | 72.1 |
| 2020-21 Period 6 | 61.7 | 3.0 | 64.7 |
| Total4 | 475.1 | 23.9 | 499.1 |
Franchise payments expected to have been paid under the franchise agreement3 in £million
| Time period | ScotRail payments | Caledonian Sleeper payments | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 Period 13 | 41.5 | 1.3 | 42.9 |
| 2020-21 Period 1 | 40.4 | 1.1 | 41.5 |
| 2020-21 Period 2 | 35.6 | 1.1 | 36.6 |
| 2020-21 Period 3 | 35.6 | 1.1 | 36.6 |
| 2020-21 Period 4 | 35.6 | 1.1 | 36.6 |
| 2020-21 Period 5 | 35.6 | 1.1 | 36.6 |
| 2020-21 Period 6 | 35.6 | 1.1 | 36.6 |
| Total | 259.8 | 7.7 | 267.6 |
Extra franchise payments made under EMA as a result of COVID-19 in £million
| Time period | ScotRail payments | Caledonian Sleeper payments | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 Period 13 | 30.0 | 1.5 | 31.5 |
| 2020-21 Period 1 | 29.6 | 1.5 | 31.1 |
| 2020-21 Period 2 | 17.4 | 3.0 | 20.4 |
| 2020-21 Period 3 | 40.5 | 4.3 | 44.8 |
| 2020-21 Period 4 | 38.1 | 2.0 | 40.1 |
| 2020-21 Period 5 | 33.5 | 2.0 | 35.5 |
| 2020-21 Period 6 | 26.1 | 2.0 | 28.0 |
| Total | 215.3 | 16.2 | 231.5 |
1 Data is shown for rail periods from 1 March to 20 September 2020. There are 13 such periods per financial year, each lasting approximately four weeks.
2 The total franchise payments made under EMA each period factors is an estimated base franchise payment that would have been paid under the franchise agreement, plus the extra required in the EMA payment due to the impact of COVID-19.
3 Total franchise payments expected to have been paid under the franchise agreement to both Abellio ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper are estimates and it is worth noting that Abellio ScotRail would have been entitled to revenue support and Caledonian Sleeper entitled to profit support. Due to COVID-19, this therefore would likely have had a material impact on franchise payments made under the franchise agreement.
4 Payments represent cash paid in the period and do not reflect periodic adjustments.
EMA1 - performance and management fees
Performance scores and management fees due to Scottish franchised passenger rail operators under Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs), March - September 2020.
