SNP MINISTERS were accused today of “shifting the goalposts” to save Scotland’s national train-operating company from losing its contract for poor performance.

ScotRail’s serious delays and cancellations are its worst in 20 years, according to a report published last week.

The Scottish government had set a performance target of 92.18 per cent, but only 88 per cent of trains arrived within five minutes of the scheduled time between August 19 and September 15.

The Scottish Daily Mail reported today, that ministers had secretly arranged with bosses to change the performance targets.

This means the company will no longer be held in breach of contract.

Scottish Labour transport spokesman Colin Smyth MSP said: “These are astounding revelations. 

“ScotRail should have breached its franchise agreement, but now we learn that the SNP has shifted the goalposts.

“It is unacceptable to have secret agreements between SNP ministers and rail bosses designed to dupe passengers and maintain a failing franchise.”

Government agency Transport Scotland denied that ScotRail had breached the franchise terms, saying that there were allowances in the contract for events outside the operator’s control.

But Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) leader Manuel Cortes called on SNP Transport Secretary Michael Matheson to take responsibility.

“A braver politician would put their hands up, admit they got it wrong and bring ScotRail back immediately into the public sector,” he said.

“But Matheson is wedded to the idea of privatisation and seems willing to engage in a cover-up of ScotRail failures rather than hold Abellio accountable.”

Mr Smyth added: “SNP Transport Secretary Michael Matheson is no longer just a cheerleader for privatisation. He seems to be manipulating arrangements behind the scenes to protect it and failing to even mention it in Parliament when questioned about the franchise.

“That is unacceptable and the public deserve an urgent explanation from Michael Matheson.”

Construction of a bridge between Scotland and Ireland could boost prosperity in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin, a new report says.

The Glasgow Urban Laboratory has raised the prospect of a “fast rail link” over the North Channel.

The idea is modelled on the Oresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden, which features in the popular Nordic noir TV series The Bridge.

Conrad Landin is the Morning Star’s Scotland Editor.