Andrew Wilson: "Opportunity available"

Railtrack was put into administration on Sunday after the government refused to put any more money into the struggling company.

A High Court order has been granted which places control of the rail network in the hands of government-appointed administrators.

The SNP says the collapse of Railtrack was overdue and welcome.

But it warns that Scotland will be ignored in the new set-up unless power is devolved.

UK ministers plan to replace Railtrack with a 'not for profit' trust.

SNP transport spokesman Andrew Wilson MSP published a policy document on Friday outlining the party's new initiative on the future of Railtrack in Scotland.

Rail transport experts Dr Iain Docherty and Dr Jon Shaw joined Mr Wilson at a media conference to discuss the proposals.

Fastrack plans

Mr Wilson argued that there should be a distinctive Scottish trust to handle investment in the rail network north of the border.

Otherwise, he argued, investment decisions would be skewed towards the south.

The move would be accompanied by transferring supervision of Scottish railways to the Scottish Parliament.

SNP leaders say they have sympathy from industry insiders - but the project is unlikely to find much favour with government ministers as they struggle to rescue the rail network.

Mr Wilson said: "The formal demise of Railtrack was as predictable as it was overdue, now it is up to political leaders to work in partnership with all those interested in securing the best future of Railways in Scotland to find the best solution for Scotland.

"The opportunity is available now to end both the relative decline of Scotland's network and the messy complexity of railway funding, management and accountability in Scotland by going for an independent Scottish trust.

George Foulkes: Tourism would be derailed

"Consistently in the last decade and going into the future we have lost out to investment priorities in the south of England.

"What we want is similar to the model that Stephen Byers is calling for in the UK.

"But rather than having Scotland as a regional bit player and a low priority within the UK, we would have a not-for-profit in Scotland so that we could focus resources here.

"We have to devolve control for the finances of rail to the Scottish Parliament."

However, Mr Foulkes said: "Scotland's tourist industry is dependent on people coming from the rest of the UK.

"And it is daft to suggest splitting up what has been in the past an integrated rail network and what would be in the future, with the investment that will be put in by the Labour government over the next 10 years."

Earlier this year, Railtrack said several new projects in Scotland had been put on hold due to financial problems.

Plan for improved links to the Borders and Glasgow Airport were shelved due to the company's spiralling debts.