Scotrail and Clarus/Starlink contract information: FOI release

Information requested

1. A rationale, including any specific legal reason, why it is not possible to disinvest from the Clarus/Starlink contract.

2. Copies of any correspondence (or minutes of any meeting) where Ministers may have instructed officials to investigate disinvesting from the Clarus/Starlink contract.

3. Copies of any briefing or legal advice that Scottish Ministers may have received in relation to the consequences and costs of such disinvestment from the Clarus/Starlink contract.

4. Any correspondence between Scottish Ministers and/or Scottish Government Officials (including those within Transport Scotland) and officials or representatives of Scotrail Trains Limited / Scottish Rail Holdings Limited, where consideration of disinvestment from the contract (by any party to it) may have been communicated.

5. Any documentation relating to the proper public tendering and procurement processes that were undertaken in first awarding the contract to Clarus/Starlink.

Response

For context, this project is a research and development (R&D) trial assessing the performance of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology on trains. The trial will test the effectiveness of this technology rather than a specific vendor. ScotRail is currently contracted with Clarus Networks, an installer and re-supplier of a range of connectivity services, which includes Starlink’s LEO satellite services. Market engagement confirmed that Starlink was the only commercial provider of LEO satellite technology offering services at the required latitude to support this trial.

Although Clarus is the supplier for this trial. ScotRail is seeking to develop a platform-agnostic solution. enabling other suppliers to be used in future.

Q: A rationale, including any specific legal reason, why it is not possible to disinvest from the Clarus/Starlink contract.

A: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The contract with Clarus Networks for this trial is held by Scotrail. The Scottish Government does not possess any correspondence, briefing, advice or documentation of the nature requested.

Q: Copies of any correspondence (or minutes of any meeting) where Ministers may have instructed officials to investigate disinvesting from the Clarus/Starlink contract.

A: The Scottish Government does not hold any such correspondence or minutes from Ministerial meetings.

Q: Copies of any briefing or legal advice that Scottish Ministers may have received in relation to the consequences and costs of such disinvestment from the Clarus/Starlink contract.

A: The Scottish Government does not hold any such Ministerial briefings or legal advice.

Q: Any correspondence between Scottish Ministers and/or Scottish Government Officials (including those within Transport Scotland) and officials or representatives of Scotrail Trains Limited / Scottish Rail Holdings Limited, where consideration of disinvestment from the contract (by any party to it) may have been communicated.

A: The Scottish Government and the bodies listed do not hold any correspondence, briefing, advice or documentation of the nature requested.

Q: Any documentation relating to the proper public tendering and procurement processes that were undertaken in first awarding the contract to Clarus/Starlink.

A: The Scottish Government does not hold any such documentation. ScotRail Trains Ltd is the Responsible Party and Project Manager for this trial. The Scottish Government was not involved in the tendering, procurement or contracting processes.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.