COWDENBEATH MSP Annabelle Ewing was pleased for the Scottish Parliament be told that ScotRail was fast heading into the last chance saloon as service problems continue.
Ms Ewing took a further opportunity to raise with the Transport Secretary her serious concerns about the service being provided on the Fife Circle, which sees constituents using Cardenden, Lochgelly and Cowdenbeath stations frustrated by cancellations and delays. 
Speaking following General Questions on Thursday in the Parliament, Ms Ewing said: “I took the opportunity of General Questions to raise once more with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport my concerns about the continuing problems on ScotRail’s Fife Circle service and tell him that my constituents are absolutely fed up with the way it is being run.
“On being asked by me whether there was any sign of light at the end of the tunnel, Mr Matheson assured me that the introduction of a remedial agreement with Scotrail was at an ‘advanced stage’. He made it clear that details of this agreement is to be announced soon".
Mr Matheson responded to her question: "I fully recognise the frustration of Annabelle Ewing’s constituents about the period of consistently poor performance across the Fife Circle. 
"As I mentioned in my earlier response, one of the reasons why we triggered the issuing of a remedial notice to ScotRail was to develop a remedial plan to address the issues that Annabelle Ewing’s constituents are experiencing. "We are now at the advanced stage of entering into that remedial agreement with ScotRail to ensure that it is effectively implemented and addresses the concerns of her constituents. We will announce more details of that in the coming days".
Ms Ewing added: “I was also pleased to hear the First Minister, later in the day, in response to a question at FMQs from my colleague Christine Graeme about problems with rail services in her area, highlight the importance of ScotRail focusing on delivering on this robust remedial plan.
“Not only that, but she made it quite clear that ScoRrail should treat the remedial plan ‘very much as the last chance saloon'. It is encouraging to see that the Scottish Government, at the very highest level, is taking the shortcomings of Abellio’s running of the ScotRail franchise so seriously.
“I look forward to seeing the publication of this performance remedial plan and, hope that its implementation will herald a significant improvement in the rail service being offered to my constituents.”