UNIONS have launched a campaign to save the historic St Rollox rail works from closure.

Owners Gemini Rail have served workers with redundancy notices giving them 45 days notice.

Unite the Union has asked for more time to explore options to save the site but the management moved to a consultation period citing a market downturn and the location of the site being unsuitable.

The union has launched the Rally Roon the Caley campaign calling on the Scottish Government to step in with investment help.

They want the government to step in and take the depot under public control and for the site to be electrified to connect with the Glasgow to Edinburgh line.

The union says the Scottish Government has £4.8bn from Westminster for rail infrastructure and electrification would cost £1m.

Pat McIlvogue, regional industrial officer, said: “The reality is that we now have forty-five days to save the depot as a result of Gemini’s utterly disgraceful behaviour to ignore calls by both the Scottish and UK Governments, and most importantly the workforce, for more time.

“We now require immediate intervention to support the electrification of the depot and for it to be brought under the control of the Scottish Government.”

READ MORE: St Rollox: Calls for urgent intervention at The Caley after notice period served

The company said it has been naking losses.

Nick Fitzwater, Managing Director of Gemini Rail Services, said: “The proposal has been made against a backdrop of increasingly challenging market conditions which are outside of our control and affect our core business of maintaining pre-privatisation rolling stock.

“Springburn will continue to suffer a major decline in work due to its location and the section of the market it serves.

“This market downturn has been evident for many years, and despite the efforts of management to explore avenues to improve the situation, and the hard work and dedication of the workforce to deliver on contracts, the company is suffering unsustainable losses.”

Glasgow North East MP Paul Sweeney raised the issue with the UK Rail Minister who said it was for the Scottish Government to fund any interventions.

A meeting with the Scottish Transport Minister, Michael Matheson, has been organised for next week to discuss funding for diversification of the site or the electrification of rail lines.