SCOTRAIL chief Alex Hynes admits there is much to be improved in Fife Circle services.

On Tuesday Kinglassie MSP Jenny Gilruth hosted her public meeting with Mr Hynes, in Markinch, and fielded a lot of questions.

Constituents joined the MSP for Glenrothes and Mid Fife in raising a variety of issues with local services directly to the Chief Executive, who has now promised an additional 5,000 seats on Fife to Edinburgh routes by mid-2020.

Mr Hynes declared that improvements to the Fife to Edinburgh routes were “an absolute priority” and promised to look into the vast fare anomalies that existed across Fife.

Fife Circle passengers, which includes those using Cardenden, Lochgelly and Cowdenbeath stations.

The meeting was set up by the MSP as a way of holding ScotRail bosses directly accountable for the services provided to and from Glenrothes with Thornton and Markinch stations and was attended by many daily commuters.

Commenting after the meeting, the MSP said: “I was pleased to be able to secure a meeting for my constituents with ScotRail Chief Executive, Alex Hynes, to allow them the chance to escalate their concerns with services directly to the boss.

“Fife needs a reliable and affordable rail service. It’s high time that ScotRail stepped up to the mark and made the changes that commuting Fifers so desperately need.

“I was glad to hear that the Fife to Edinburgh route is being promised an additional 5,000 seats, and that the large discrepancies of train fares across the Kingdom are going to be reviewed. I will be keeping a close eye on these promises and will continue to hold ScotRail accountable.”

Alex Hynes, the Chief Executive of ScotRail, added: “We welcome the engagement with customers and Jenny Gilruth at the public meeting.

"It was important to hear first-hand from them and that’s why we’ve committed to look at the issues raised and continue to engage with them.

“I’m pleased we’ve delivered improvements in the service we provide to Fife customers, but we know there is more to do.

“Further significant benefits will come when more of our refurbished Inter7City trains are delivered. This will mean more peak trains operating in Fife will be formed of six carriage Class 170 trains, and off-peak services will generally be three carriages.”