SCOTRAIL has pledged to publish a list of Scotland’s busiest rail services following a public outcry over delays and cancellations.
The ScotRail Alliance said it is committed to providing people with information on the busiest services to help them choose the most suitable journeys.
Operators in England and Wales already publish details of the most overcrowded services, revealing some trains carry twice their seating capacity.
Read more: ScotRail fined £483,000 for failing to meet standards
ScotRail’s pledge came as it emerged the Scottish Government is examining options for returning Scotland’s railways to public ownership.
Ministers are reported to be preparing a model based on CalMac Ferries Ltd, a subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd which is wholly owned by Scottish ministers.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed her Government has the right to terminate the ScotRail contract with Dutch firm Abellio if it does not meet its performance targets.
A ScotRail Alliance spokeswoman said: “For the first time we will be publishing this information – and telling people what we’re doing to add more seats.”
Read more: ScotRail fined £483,000 for failing to meet standards
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “Plans to publish figures about the most crowded trains on an annual basis is to be welcomed.”
More than 19,000 people have signed a petition calling on Transport Minister Humza Yousaf to “make ScotRail bosses improve Scotland’s trains or strip them of their contract”.
Abellio was awarded the 10-year franchise in 2015, but ministers can strip it after five if punctuality falls below 84.3 per cent.
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