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A number of new rail jobs look set to be created across Scotland over the next 12 months as work continues to encourage people out of their cars and onto public transport.

With the number of Scots riding on the country's trains steadily increasing, the minister for transport, infrastructure and climate change, Stewart Stevenson, has welcomed the news that around 60 ScotRail trains are to begin switching routes from September 2010.

This will be made possible by the forthcoming introduction of 38 new electric Class 380 trains, which will not only add 9000 seats to the Scottish rail network, but will also further promote the use of public transportation and thereby potentially provide a boost for rail jobs north of the border.

Mr Stevenson wrote on his blog: "This vital investment in a new fleet of environmentally-friendly trains will deliver not only benefits for passengers through improved facilities, more trains and more seats on the network, but also help us meet our ambitious climate change targets by encouraging people to leave the car at home in favour of more sustainable forms of transport."

Earlier this year, ScotRail was awarded a three year extension to its franchise and stated that it will continue to invest in Scotland's railway infrastructure, and thereby create rail jobs, at least until the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.