A historic railway yard facing closure has been thrown a potential lifeline.
The St Rollox depot in Glasgow’s Springburn – which employs 200 people – has been given a locomotive for refurbishment by North Lanarkshire Council.
The Springbok steam engine from South Africa has been rotting at the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge since the 80s.
Now the local authority has given the yard – nicknamed the Caley – the task of stripping back and refurbishing the engine.
The move means the Scottish Government, which has resisted calls to nationalise the yard, can grant state aid and keep it going while owners Gemini Rail find new operators.
The Labour MP for Glasgow North East, Paul Sweeney, said: “Since the closure of the Caley was announced late last year, my colleagues and I at the Unite trade union have left no stone unturned in our efforts to find a way to keep 160 years of railway engineering in Springburn alive.
We’ve repeatedly argued for the works to be brought back into public ownership, as they were under British Rail from 1948 to 1995, but SNP Transport Minister Michael Matheson has refused, claiming his hands are tied by EU state aid rules.”
Pat McIlvogue, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “Unite has been working tirelessly to explore every option possible to keep the Caley open and to secure work which will buy more time.
“The initiative to refurbish and refit the locomotive gives us that opportunity.
“Unite looks forward to discussing this welcome development in greater detail with North Lanarkshire Council and heritage organisations.”
North Lanarkshire Council leader Jim Logue said: “We’re delighted to be supporting this innovative proposal by Paul Sweeney MP to ensure the Caley‘s proud history is preserved.
“Now is the time for the SNP to fund this proposal to save these crucial jobs.”
Gemini Rail took over the site in August last year after a sale was agreed with Knorr-Bremse Rail Services.
Six months later, closure proposals were announced.
.jpg?w=600)
