THE UK government unveiled a “generous settlement” for Scottish rail passengers.

Ministers have revealed the Scottish Government will receive more than £3.6 billion over five years from 2019/20 – an increase of £600 million on the previous period.

Alongside this, the Scottish Government is also being given greater control over how its rail is funded. So it can choose how best to use this money to improve the reliability of services for passengers, fund upgrades and invest in faster and more comfortable trains.

The Scottish Government is also receiving additional funding through the Barnett system following the UK’s investment in HS2.

Chief secretary to the treasury Elizabeth Truss said: “This multibillion-pound UK government funding is a prime example of how Scotland benefits from the UK’s broad shoulders.

“Our record investment for railways across the UK means a settlement for Scotland that could improve the entire network.

“We are backing Scotland for its future success and it’s now up to the Scottish Government to ensure maximum benefit for the public.”