SATISFACTION with ScotRail has dropped to a 15 year low, according to the latest survey of passengers.

According to a report published by Transport Focus, satisfaction amongst users of the service up to autumn 2018 was 79% down, a 6% drop from the same time the year previous.

Over the past six months users of the Fife Circle have found themselves repeatedly having problems with Cardenden, Lochgelly and Cowdenbeath stations not immune from seeing trains late and cancellations.

Only 72% of passengers were satisfied with the reliability and punctuality of ScotRail, a 10% drop, with less than half – 39% - satisfied with how the train operator deals with delays, down 12%.

With ticket prices rising only 51% of rail users felt that they were getting value for money with the price of their ticket. This is down 8%.

Commenting on the report, Claire Baker MSP said: “This latest report will make grim reading for ScotRail bosses but will come as no surprise to passengers that have to endure their service day in, day out, to get to work.

“Despite regular promises to improve services across Scotland, we can see that satisfaction with ScotRail is crumbling.

“The statistics fail to take into account the plethora of problems passengers faced over Christmas and winter when there was a significant increase in cancellations and complaints.

“That only just over a third are satisfied with how ScotRail deal with delays highlights the frustration many face with the service. That is just one of the many reasons why passengers feel that they are paying too much for a service that is not good enough.

“Yet instead of taking action the Scottish Government have given ScotRail a free pass, allowing them to continue to deliver a service that fails to meet its own contract".

The MSP added: “The Scottish Government must get serious about taking action if ScotRail fail to get services back on track. Passengers deserve better.”

While ScotRail say that they are working hard to improve services they have had a set back with contractors being slow to supply new rolling stock which which were to free up carriages from other routes to be used on the Fife Circle.

Also the Scottish Government have demanded better from ScotRail and are looking at trying to get Network Rail in Scotland under their wing, as the rail service people have been blamed for some of the delays that have affected services.