A LONE piper will today lead out the workers as the last railworks in Scotland closes its gates.
Pleas to save the historic St Rollox “Caley” railworks in Springburn, Glasgow, continued yesterday. The site had been active for 163 years.
But in December workers were told their jobs were at risk due to falling orders and in March owners Gemini Rail Services confirmed their intention to close the gates for good.
The reduction in business was linked to the introduction of modern shuttles to replace the pre-privatisation rolling stock serviced and maintained at the site.
The last train from the current schedule of works is set to leave today, with most repair and maintenance of Scotland’s rolling stock now set to take place in England.
The Unite union, which organised the “Rally Roon The Caley” campaign, had urged the Scottish Government to make an “urgent intervention” and take the facility into public hands. It claims that closure will cost 200 direct and indirect jobs.
A rally will leave the north Glasgow depot at noon, with a piper leading the remaining workforce.
Pat McIlvogue, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “The Caley workforce will leave with their heads held high.
“If there is no urgent intervention by the Scottish Government then this will be the last day of a long and proud 163-year history.
He added: “However, we still believe that if there is the necessary political will then this doesn’t need to be the case. The Caley can have a proud future ahead of it.
“The campaign to secure this future will go on but today represents a potentially poignant moment in Scotland’s industrial story.”
Gemini Rail Services said it had no further comment to make this week.
Local MSP Bob Doris added: “With no order book and no practical way under current rules for the Scottish Government or ScotRail to direct work to the Caley, it was always going to be a tough ask to save ongoing operations at the St Rollox site.
“Thankfully most workers appear to have secured alternative employment.
“That said, it remains hugely disappointing and a blow to Springburn that a railworks with a proud history closes its door today.”
Doris continued: “The work of the stakeholder group I requested the Scottish Government to establish must continue and Scottish Enterprise has been working hard to attract commercial interest to return railway engineering work to St Rollox.
“I hope we will see the doors re-open in some form and a proud industry return to Springburn.
“In doing so we need to look at ways of fundamentally reforming the railway sector to ensure that if and when jobs return they are sustainable and that the Scottish Government has a meaningful way of offering strategic support.”
In April Unite said it had secured a pledge from Gemini Rail to pay £1 million to lay the ground for a takeover of the site and existing employees.
However, Gemini Rail said no such offer had been made and a spokesperson for Transport Scotland said ministers and officials had been doing “all they can” to secure the future of the specialist centre, which opened in 1865.
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