THE evening rush hour service between Edinburgh and Glasgow is Scotland's busiest train, an official new report states.

In a list of Scotland's most crowded services, compiled over a six-month period, Transport Scotland said the 17:21 from the capital via Shotts run at a maximum of 146 per cent of planned capacity.

The two-carriage service carries 270 passengers but only has capacity for 185 seated and standing.

Transport Scotland said the data would help ScotRail "improve passenger experiences" and make best use of its rolling stock by adding carriages on services they were needed most. It also said the figures would allow passengers to better plan their journeys.

The 17:01 Glasgow Central to East Kilbride was ranked second busiest and operated at 135 per cent of capacity between May and September, when the winter four-carriage train were reduced to two.

The Herald:

Services between Neilston in Renfrewshire and Glasgow Central were the two busiest morning services.

Last November, a major improvement plan was published in response to widespread criticism of ScotRail's reliability since Abellio took over the franchise in April 2015.

Statistics published since then have shown that ScotRail's performance has improved for five consecutive months.

The rail company said 160 extra carriages had been introduced on routes across the country, with another 180 to follow in the next 24 months.

'Value for money'.

Transport Secretary Humza Yousaf said: "The Scottish government is delivering the most ambitious programme of rail investment ever seen in Scotland, committing over £5bn across the current funding period.

"We wholly appreciate busy trains can be uncomfortable and can assure passengers we are focused on delivering the value-for-money service they both want and deserve.

"We will achieve this in the near future, meanwhile, this busiest trains information will help make informed journey planning choices simpler in the here and now."

Scottish Labour said the report revealed "the alarming scale of overcrowding on trains across Scotland", transport spokesman Neil Bibby adding: "The fact that a train with room for 185 passengers, including those standing, can have 270 people on board is simply staggering.

"Passengers are fed-up with overcrowded, delayed and expensive trains.

"When the SNP awarded the contract to run our railways to Abellio, SNP ministers said it was a 'world-leading' deal. It is clearly nothing of the sort."

The top 10 busiest train services in Scotland are:

1 Edinburgh-Glasgow Central via Shotts 5.21pm

2 Glasgow Central-East Kilbride 5.01pm

3 Neilston-Glasgow Central 8.07am

4 Neilston-Glasgow Central 8.24am

5 Edinburgh-Glenrothes w/Thornton via Dunfermline 5.53pm

6 Balloch-Airdrie 7.07am

7 Edinburgh-Dunblane 4.03pm

8 Glasgow Central-East Kilbride 6.47pm

9 East Kilbride-Glasgow Central 7.59am

10 Dalmuir-Larkhall 8.18am