A PUBLIC-SECTOR rail operator will be able to bid for the future rail franchises in Scotland, under SNP plans to be unveiled today.

The move is to be announced by Nicola Sturgeon when she addresses the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) annual conference in Dundee, and follows new powers being handed to Holyrood in the Scotland Bill.

Speaking ahead of his conference appearance, the SNP leader said the policy would help address the current anomaly that allows foreign public-sector operators to bid to run Scottish rail services, but not public-sector operators based in Scotland.

“Rail has a bright future in Scotland, with major improvements to our network taking place the length and breadth of Scotland,” she said.

“And significant investment in rolling stock over the next few years means that passengers across Scotland are set to benefit from an additional 200 services and 20,000 more seats. The SNP want to build on this using new powers coming to the Scottish Parliament. We have long argued against the absurd position where public-sector operators from other countries can bid to run public rail services in Scotland, but our own public sector could not.”

She added: “One of the recommendations of the Smith Commission was that Holyrood should have the power to change that. A re-elected SNP government will put in place the necessary changes to the legislation to ensure that in the future, a Scottish public-sector body can bid to run Scotland’s railways.

"The new powers coming to the Scottish Parliament mean that this is the most important election since devolution.”

The move follows concerns about the performance of Abellio in running the ScotRail contract.

Last year the international arm of the Dutch national rail company was fined more than £250,000 for late trains, dirty toilets and litter on platforms after being awarded the £6 billion contract in April last year.

Figures released by Transport Scotland last November also showed the Dutch company failed to meet standards for trains in eight out of 17 categories including toilets, graffiti, passenger information displays and the seat reservation system.