Scotrail told to put forward plan to improve performance
There's been disruption since the operator introduced a new timetable
ScotRail has been told to set out how it plans to improve performance levels by the Scottish Government.
Scotland's rail operator introduced a new timetable earlier this month, which has led to a raft of cancellations.
Bosses are blaming the disruption on staff training and infrastructure infrastructure problems.
A remedial notice was issued on Monday, citing cancellations throughout November and December as having breached required performance targets.
The notice also applies pre-emptively in relation to ScotRail's overall performance, as measured by the Public Performance Measure (PPM), with ministers expecting ScotRail to fall below the the PPM benchmark.
A response to the notice must be delivered within eight weeks, outlining how ScotRail will resolve the issues stated.
Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity said: "We have stressed many times that ScotRail must improve, but too often passengers have been left disappointed.
"This month should have been a celebration of the biggest increase in services and capacity, enabled by our ambitious electrification programme. Instead, we are taking this contractual step of issuing a remedial plan notice.
"ScotRail recognises the reasons for this notice and the importance in returning performance across our rail network to contractually acceptable levels. Passengers want and deserve a railway which delivers the benefits of more seats and services on a consistently reliable basis.''
Alex Hynes, managing director of the ScotRail Alliance, added: "We know that the service our customers have received hasn't been good enough recently.
"Everybody at the ScotRail Alliance is working flat out to deliver the improvements our customers expect and deserve. ScotRail will submit a remedial plan to Transport Scotland within the eight weektimescale outlined."