Staff at the historic St Rollox rail works in Springburn have been served with a statutory consultation period for closure which could see the site close for good. 

Representatives of workers were informed on Thursday morning that bosses at Gemini Rail had began a 45-day period of consulation which could now see the yard close as early as March. 

The employer, which is responsible for almost 200 jobs in Glasgow, put forward proposals for closure of the site last month, with trade unions and politicians calling for time to be given to explore viable options to keep the site open. 

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. 

READ MORE: St Rollox: Future of historic Springburn rail works in Scottish Government's hands

However, on Thursday Gemini kicked off the notice period, prompting representatives to call for "urgent intervention" to save the key infrastructure site. 

Pat McIlvogue, Unite the Union officer, said: "Since before Christmas we have asked for more time and for Gemini not to serve notice on our members as we do not agree with their reasons for closure. 

"We have asked Gemini to open their accounts to Scottish Enterprise to show which areas of the site are incurring loses and they have failed to do so. 

"Today, they have demonstrated total complete contempt for our members. 

"This is a complete slap in the face for the Scottish Government, who have engaged Gemini in discussion and for our members. It this goes ahead it will make a terrible dent in Scotland's rail infrastructure. 

"But while we asked to engage over options for the future of the site they have been removing signs from the walls. 

READ MORE: Nationalisation an option to save 180 jobs at Glasgow's St Rollox Railway Works

"This is disengenious and nothing short of industrial vandalism."

"We will starting our Rally Roon the Caley campaign and we need immediate intervention from the Scottish Government on this."

Earlier this week a debate had taken place at Westminster, initiated by MP Paul Sweeney, with the UK's Rail Minister intimating that it was the responsibility of the Scottish Government to support or fund any interventions at the site. 

Mr Sweeney has now shared his disappointment at the news on Thursday, but said Gemini's decision was unsurprising. 

He added: "I am quite disappointed but we now need to up the ante. 

"The ball is firmly in the Scottish Government's court. 

"The overall operation must be taken over by ScotRail or as part of a ScotRail led deal. 

"The Scottish Government need to make their intentions clear. 

"We now have 45 days to avert disaster and we need firm action going forward. but I believe that with the will a solution could be found within a week."

Nick Fitzwater, Managing Director of Gemini Rail Services, said: “Following our initial announcement in December, Gemini Rail Services can confirm it has entered a consultation process with employees over a proposal to close its site in Springburn, Glasgow. Employees have been informed of the consultation process, and we will now hold detailed discussions with them and their representatives, both collectively and individually.

“As we have stated, the decision to put forward the proposal has in no way been taken lightly and we know it is a worrying time for the workforce. The proposal has been made against a backdrop of increasingly challenging market conditions which are outside of our control and severely 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 won by the company, the company is suffering unsustainable losses.

“Gemini Rail Services management has worked to engage with several key stakeholders, including industry experts, unions and politicians, to openly discuss the adverse market forces affecting Springburn and to explore all viable alternative options for the site. This engagement is ongoing.”

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “Once again it is disappointing that we hear of these latest developments.

“We will continue do everything in our power to prevent this closure including working with unions, the workforce and the company involved to explore all options. Already this year, Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland have met with the owners to examine the possibility of keeping the Springburn workshops open, potentially repurposing the site to give a longer term future for the workshops.

“While there are no current plans to electrify the site, as some have suggested, Network Rail could work with industry partners to do so if a suitable business case was developed. Meanwhile, we continue to be committed to supporting rail services in Scotland and have made record investment in the sector in recent years, including new rolling stock and improved infrastructure.”