RAIL union leader Manuel Cortes has called on Nicola Sturgeon to ensure there are no cuts to essential staff when ScotRail goes into public ownership in 2022.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association’s general secretary made the call as part of five demands he has penned in a letter to the First Minister ahead of the rail services being taken into the public sector in 2022, operated by an arm’s length company owned and controlled by the Scottish government.

Mr Cortes has said that his suggestions would protect jobs and make the railway truly fit for Scotland’s future, calling on ScotRail and the government to reverse planned cuts to services and ticket office closures in the new year.

He also urged those at the top to keep ticket prices low, which would encourage more people to use transport and help Scotland reach its climate change targets.

He said: “If the last five years under Abellio have shown anything it’s that private is not better.

“ScotRail performs a vital role in the Scottish economy. It makes sense to invest in it now, so that ScotRail can play its role in our Covid recovery and our greener future.”

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We remain committed to and are pressing ahead to put in place arrangements to mobilise a wholly owned company of the Scottish government to provide ScotRail services within the public sector under Scottish government control with the revised arrangements due to start when the current franchise expires on March 31 2022.

“We will continue to make the case for complete devolution of rail responsibilities so that Scotland’s people can determine the best future for our railway.”