SCOTRAIL passengers continued to suffer overcrowding misery as train faults and continued staff training led to train carriage cuts across the network.
The issues came as transport secretary Michael Matheson warned Dutch transport company Abellio, which runs the ScotRail service, could be stripped of the franchise if its performance does not improve while reporting that since Monday there was a "marked improvement" with "appropriately trained crew for all services".
ScotRail increased compensation rates for its poor performance on Monday as a new winter timetable introduced in December 9 led to a host of cancellations and delayed services.
ScotRail had to cut the number of carriages on at least 70 services across Scotland on Tuesday - the main reason for passenger overcrowding - and cancel a small number of services.
While passengers were told it was down to a "train fault" the train opeator said the majority of the 'short formation' trains were down to "Intercity high-speed train availability". Two Intercity 125 Class 43 HSTs (high-speed trains) were being used for staff training.
An issue with the buffers on one of its Class 380 electric trains, and a coupling issue with a Class 334 train, was an added factor.
"We have had to reshuffle the deck, to either cancel trains or run them with less carriages," said a ScotRail spokesman.
“We’re really sorry to customers for the disruption to services over the last few days and recent weeks. We know that one of the biggest concerns is busy trains, and we’re working hard to deliver the level of service our customers expect."
Most of the disruption that has hit Scots railways since the timetable launch in December 9 was due to ScotRail staff shortages, and the train operator said that is partly because many have been undergoing training on the new trains too late to be ready for the timetable launch.
ScotRail said that was partly caused by the late arrival of the new Hitachi Class 385 and high-speed InterCity trains.
The train operator says the lag in staff training was made worse as a result of RMT industrial action over a pay dispute that lasted several weeks, and was resolved over four weeks ago.
ScotRail said on Monday that they have "made progress" since the launch of the timetable having trained 70 drivers and conductors but added: "We know we need to do more."
But it has emerged that it still has to train up more than 20 drivers and conductors every day throughout January and February to return service to "levels [passengers] deserve".
The 10-year franchise deal with Abellio for the ScotRail franchise awarded in 2015 allows the contract to be terminated early in 2020, if there was a performance default in three consecutive months.
Mr Matheson said that the railway operator was asked to submit a plan to address falling performance levels which if unsuccessful could result in a breach of contract which if then unremedied could result in Abellio losing the ScotRail franchise early. The operator has till February 18 to submit their plan.
He said: "I expect ScotRail to set out in the remedial plan how they plan to address these performance issues...
"I will continue to monitor this daily to ensure ScotRail meet their training programme to remove train crew cancellations in the coming weeks."
He said that even after the remedial plan is delivered, they could end up losing the franchise if they do not deliver the agreed improvements.
He added: "I very much regret the poor service that customers have experienced from ScotRail over recent months. There's no doubt further action is required in order to make sure that the contract that Abellio have from the ScotRail Alliance is one they are meeting on a contractual basis.
"There is absolutely no lack of determination on my part to make sure ScotRail keep up to the standards we expect of them as are set out in the contract."
ScotRail offered season ticket holders most affected by cancellations extra compensation by way of free trips on selected routes that have been most impacted.
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