SCOTRAIL'S boss has insisted it is in "the best interests of passengers" that it is not stripped of the franchise to run Scotland's railways.
Alex Hynes, managing director of the ScotRail Alliance – a partnership between Abellio ScotRail and Network Rail – said an extra £18 million is being invested in trains and services.
It comes amid widespread concerns over delays and cancellations.
Mr Hynes was challenged over whether Dutch firm Abellio should lose the ScotRail franchise during a fringe meeting at the SNP conference in Aberdeen.
He said: "The Scottish Government quite rightly held us to account just before Christmas by issuing what's called a remedial notice and we set out our £18 million investment in improving train service performance, and we are on track to deliver that commitment to the Scottish Government.
"I think the franchise should run to the full term, because that's in the best interests of the passengers in Scotland."
Mr Hynes said the ScotRail Alliance is delivering record investment in Scotland's railways.
SNP delegates quizzed him on train improvements outside the central belt and on the beleaguered Milngavie line.
Abellio was awarded the ScotRail franchise for 10 years in 2015, but a "break clause" allows it to be terminated in 2022.
Earlier this year, Nicola Sturgeon warned ScotRail it is in “the last chance saloon” over its performance.
However, this month MSPs rejected a Labour motion in Holyrood urging the Scottish Government to end the franchise early.
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