Unions have criticised the Scottish Government for what they state is a refusal to pursue an opportunity to take the St Rollox deport into public ownership.

Unite said it secured a commitment from owners Gemini Rail to pay a contribution of £1m to facilitate a take over of the site and existing employees.

At a meeting this week between the union, the Transport secretary and government officials the offer was put but rejected.

Gemini said it has not made an offer.

However, Gemini Rail are understood to be willing to hand over a cash sum for a take-over because it has larger than expected redundancy liabilities, thought to be in the region of £3m to the workers it is laying off at the Springburn depot.

A payment of £1m to relinquish the site would reduce their costs by around 60%

Pat McIlvogue of Unite said he put the proposal to the Transport Secretary at a stakeholder meeting.

Mr McIlvogue said: “Gemini Rail said they would give up the site, its assets, lease and undertakings and make a contribution of £1m.

“We put this to the Transport Secretary but he wasn’t interested.”

The firm has work until July when the site will be gradually shut down until the current lease ends next year.

Around 200 workers were affected when a consultation period ended early last month.

Mr McIlvogue added: “ Skills are diminishing by the day. There is a casualisation process of the rail maintenance sector. The Scottish Government is abdicating responsibility allowing work to leave Scotland.”

Paul Sweeney, Labour Glasgow North East MP, said: “Having been involved in the meetings with the Transport Minister this week, I was taken aback at his point-blank refusal to consider taking the strategically vital St Rollox railway maintenance facility in Springburn back into public ownership – this despite the offer of £1 million from the current private owners to help facilitate this transition.

Gemini Rail said no offer has been made to the Scottish Government.

A spokesman for Gemini Rail Services said: “Following our announcement to workers regarding the gradual closure of its Springburn facility, Gemini Rail Services wishes to underline it is committed to continuing its liaison with all key stakeholders over the future of the site.

“To this end we are more than pleased to talk with any interested party about any viable future options for the site we have not ourselves been able to identify, and we shall of course be continuing to explore alternative ways to serve the Scottish market and support the Scottish Rail Infrastructure of the future.”

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "As far as we aware no formal offer of support has yet been received by Scottish Enterprise so it’s not true to say that this was ‘refused’.

“The Cabinet Secretary has been quite clear in his disappointment, including in meetings as recently as this week, that Gemini Rail has consistently refused to postpone the closure consultation and instead made a business decision to close the workshops at Springburn.

“Ministers and officials will continue to do all they can in looking to the potential for repurposing the site but any proposals have to be viable in the longer term.”