SNP MINISTERS were accused of giving ScotRail “a pass to fail” today, amid fresh calls to end the franchise early.

At First Minister’s Questions today, Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie said the Scottish government “must work on the assumption that a public-sector bidder may be needed from next year.”

The nationalist administration is preparing for the state to bid against private operators for the next ScotRail franchise.

Current operator Abellio, an arm of the Dutch state, has faced extensive criticism for delays and cancellations.

Labour is pushing for a more certain road to nationalisation. Last year the opposition party tabled a motion calling for a “break clause” in the franchise to be invoked to end it early, but this was voted down by Tories and the SNP.

Mr Harvie said: “Three months ago when many of these failures were already being regularly reported, the government voted against using the break point in the ScotRail franchise next year.

“If the government weren’t convinced then, I think they should be convinced now that that option must remain on the table.

“Surely the Deputy First Minister won’t rule that option out because doing so would give Abellio a free pass to continue failing.”

Standing in for Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “If there was to be a situation which arose where an operator of last resort was to replace ScotRail in 2020, that can only be a temporary measure.

“Under the current UK legislation, the requirement to tender the franchise would still remain which then opens up the possibility, which we have now secured as a government, to bring forward a competitive public-sector bid in that context.”

The government is considering putting forward a bid from the parent company of state-owned ferry operator CalMac.

Labour transport spokesman Colin Smyth said: “With passengers facing rip-off fares and substandard service, we’ll continue to make the case for public ownership of our public transport — unlike the SNP, which has handed Abellio a licence to fail.”

A ScotRail spokesman said: “Everyone at the ScotRail Alliance is working flat out to provide customers with the service they deserve. We are training more than 20 drivers and conductors every day, and this will deliver continual improvements in the coming weeks and months.”

Meanwhile ScotRail was also facing criticism over plans to move customer service jobs from Fort William to Glasgow. Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association general secretary Manuel Cortes met ScotRail bosses on Wednesday night to make the case for keeping the jobs in the West Highlands.

Mr Cortes called on the SNP government to “intervene to protect the Highlands economy.”