Lord Adonis, the UK transport minister, last night dismissed claims that direct train services between Glasgow and London on the East Coast Main Line were about to be axed.

Adonis said that he knew of no such plan, insisting that he would not withdraw rail services from Glasgow.

It was reported yesterday that the UK government and the rail industry had discussed terminating trains at Edinburgh in a timetable to be introduced in December 2010. At present, the service leaves London’s King’s Cross, travels up the east coast of England and goes on to Edinburgh, then Glasgow.

The claim provoked criticism from Alex Salmond, who was campaigning in Glasgow Northeast ahead of Thursday’s by-election.

The first minister, whose government was criticised for scrapping the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, claimed that Labour was taking Glasgow voters for granted and said the plan was a “deceit at the heart of their campaign”.

“This secret plan to slash one of Glasgow’s main connections to London, a connection that is vital for business, for tourism and for employment, is a clear sign that Labour continue to take Glasgow and Glasgow voters for granted,” he said.

However, the transport minister said that he would not axe the service and accused Salmond of electioneering. “This is a blatant and cheap attempt by the SNP to deflect attention from their axing the airport rail link,” said Adonis, who campaigned in the constituency last week.

“No proposals to alter services between Glasgow and London have been brought to me. Unlike the SNP, I will not withdraw vital rail services from Glasgow.”

Tom Harris, the Labour MP and former transport minister, described Salmond’s intervention as a “desperate attempt” to revive the SNP’s by-election campaign.

“They are inventing a smokescreen to hide their own disastrous scrapping of the Glasgow rail link,” he said.

“When I was a transport minister, I made sure that Glasgow remained in the east coast timetable and I am certain that it will remain in any new franchise.”

The UK government takes over the direct link between Glasgow and King’s Cross on the East Coast Main Line this week after National Express gave up the loss-making franchise.

However, the proposed timetabling changes, which were reported to have been discussed at a meeting last week, are not linked to the temporary nationalisation of the franchise.

Gordon Brown used a visit to Glasgow last week to attack the SNP government over the cancellation of the £170m airport rail link.

“The Nationalist administration’s decision to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link will cost vital jobs across the city,” he said.

“It is an inexplicable, wrong, and shortsighted choice that the people of Glasgow will not forget.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport said: “Any changes to train services are a matter for the train operating company.

“Any such changes could only be implemented after public consultation and approval from the department.”

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