More than nine in 10 ScotRail trains ran on time over the past four weeks as punctuality reached a nine-month high, say ScotRail.

The train operator said since the introduction of a new timetable they were now delivering the "best punctuality for customers since September, 2018."

In December, when ScotRail, run by Dutch train firm Abellio, introduced a winter timetable they were dogged with a host of complaints about cancelled trains, overcrowded carriages and service delays.

ScotRail was issued with two remedial plans since then, requiring it to set out an action plan as to how it would address levels of performance. ScotRail said the issues were down to staff shortages as staff were had been belatedly undergoing training artly caused partly by the late arrival of the new Hitachi Class 385 and high-speed InterCity trains.

Now ScotRail say that across Scotland, 90.5 per cent of ScotRail trains met the rail industry standard public performance measure (PPM), arriving at their destination within 4 minutes and 59 seconds of their timetabled arrival time, having called at all scheduled stations.

The train operator said that the changes to the timetable on May 19delivered 115,000 more seats on Scotland's railways compared to when Abellio took over the franchise in 2015.

The Herald:

It said the first week of the new timetable saw 92.2 per cent of trains meet their punctuality target – also a nine-month high for a single week.

ScotRail said it was now running more than 2,400 trains every weekday, a rise of 11 per cent from 10 years ago.

The train operator said that Scotland's railways "continue to grow faster than any other in the UK".

Alex Hynes, ScotRail Alliance managing director said:“The timetable changes we have made follows unprecedented investment in Scotland’s railway. I am delighted we have been able to deliver the service our customers expect and deserve.

“Everyone across the ScotRail Alliance is continuing to work flat out every day to improve the service, and achieving our best punctuality since September last year shows that the hard work is delivering for our customers.”