A FIFE MSP has slammed ScotRail's proposed timetable alterations as a "slap in the face" for passengers.

Alex Rowley said the changes, scheduled to begin in May 2022 and affecting the Fife Circle, will "decimate rail services" and should be halted by the Scottish Government.

In a motion in the Scottish Parliament, he said the proposals would see around 300 routes a day being cut and journey times increase.

Mr Rowley fumed: “These sweeping cuts are contrary to any commitments to greener travel polices and will come as a slap in the face for many passengers of ScotRail.

“The changes could see the removal of almost all direct trains between the two sides of the Fife Circle with a change at Inverkeithing required, the removal of all direct trains between Kirkcaldy and Perth, the reduction of semi-fast trains from Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh, increased journey times on the Perth to Edinburgh route, the main service between Inverness to Perth/Edinburgh travelling via Stirling with passengers now having to change trains, and the through services between Fife and Tweedbank discontinued with passengers having to change trains at Edinburgh Waverley.

“This will no doubt result in increased travel times and potential overcrowding at a time when we are supposedly committed to greener travel and hitting ambitious climate targets.

“The Scottish Government need to reject these proposals and I would also encourage anyone with a view to take part in ScotRail’s consultation on the changes to let them know passengers won’t be taken for a ride like this.”

The public consultation on the proposed timetable changes is now under way and runs until October 1.

It follows the "worst financial crisis the rail industry has experienced" as passenger numbers dropped by 90 per cent after the first lockdown.

ScotRail said they were only able to operate through the pandemic thanks to £400 million from the Scottish Government, in the form of emergency measures agreements, and although more people are returning to trains since the lifting of restrictions, passenger journeys are still only around half of what they were before COVID hit.

It said there was evidence to show that, in future, "customers will be using the railway in different ways by travelling at different times and for different purposes" and the new timetable "will reflect predicted levels of service".

The changes aim to focus on improved punctuality and reliability although ScotRail admitted: "On other routes, there may be slightly longer journey times, as it is more efficient to operate one long train calling at all stations, than have two shorter ones which split the calls between them, for example between Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh.

"Many routes will see little change compared to the current timetable."

Alex Hynes, Scotland’s Railway managing director, said: “Our job is to keep people moving and connected to business, leisure and education while meeting the expectations of our customers.

“The pandemic has changed how people travel across all of Scotland so our services will reflect these varied travel patterns and deliver timetables that are reliable, have enough capacity to meet pre-COVID levels of demand, and are sustainable.

“We are consulting on the timetable changes being proposed and we would welcome the views of our customers.”

David Simpson, ScotRail operations director, added: “The significant cost of running the railway following the impact of the pandemic means it’s essential that the railway meets the changing needs of customers, as well as providing taxpayers with best value for money. Our timetable proposals do that.

“That might mean offering a different service on different days of the week or different times of year as passenger demand varies across the week or through the year. But by doing so, we can ensure Scotland’s Railway remains sustainable into the future.”

You can view the proposals and have your say at https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-scotrail/fit-future