SCOTLAND'S trains are to be given a facelift with the country's national flag.

SCOTLAND'S trains are to be given a facelift with the country's national flag.

The rail network is to be rebranded with its first uniform look using saltire livery.

Stations will also be revamped using a dark blue colour scheme and blue signs similar to those at Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley.

Transport Scotland say they want the country's trains to have the same connection as red buses have in London.

The work will be carried out during routine re-painting to avoid extra costs.

The move has led to some accusations that the SNP government is using the rebrand to push the independence message.

However transport chiefs insist the plans were on the table before the party came to power.

They said the rebranding aimed to provide the country's railways with a livery that will not change each time a new company takes over.

Passenger watchdogs said the saltire livery would reduce confusion and save money in the long term.

Robert Samson, the Scotland manager for Passenger Focus, said: "It will help bring uniformity, because there is a mishmash of First ScotRail and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport livery now, and different signs all over the place.

"The new livery gives Scotland's railways a national identity without being Nationalist."

The look is due to be launched next month to mark the 25th anniversary of the ScotRail name being coined by British Rail. The saltire livery, which will also be extended to train interiors, will cover 260 trains across the country.

Gary Brogan, the head of franchise futures of Transport Scotland, said: "We aim to create a brand which is independent of the franchisee."