ScotRail, the country's main train operator, announced an eighth consecutive annual increase in passenger numbers.
The firm today revealed it carried 81.1m commuters over the last year – a new high which beat the previous record by 2.8m passengers.
Millions of workers and shoppers are thought to have ditched the bus and car for rail to beat rising fuel costs.
The Aberdeen-based transport giant First took over the ScotRail franchise in 2004 and since then has seen passenger numbers soar by 17m, with substantial increases by the million recorded for each subsequent year.
ScotRail managing director Steve Montgomery, said: "We are delighted that passenger numbers continue to grow.
"To meet this rising demand for rail travel, we are running more services than ever before – some 2300 a day – and continue to enhance services."
Around 2000 services were in operation when the franchise was taken on eight years ago.
Mr Montgomery said: "This has led to more people making the switch to rail – and is delivering environmental and economic benefits for Scotland."
The Scottish Government is backing the drive from road to rail.
Transport Minister, Keith Brown, said: "I welcome the year-on-year increase in passenger numbers which reflects our aim of encouraging people to get out of their cars and on to more sustainable modes of transport.
"That's why since 2007 we have invested £2.6 billion in rail infrastructure, maintenance, supporting passenger services and making improvements to Scotland's rail network.
"These figures show the increasing demand for rail services in Scotland and we will continue to make improvements with our industry partners to make rail travel an attractive transport option."
One major boost in recent years has been the multi-million pound investment in new railway stations; including the new Larkhall-Glasgow link, the re-opening of the Airdrie-Bathgate line on the Glasgow- Edinburgh service and the introduction of 38 new Class 380 trains serving areas including Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire.
Last September, ScotRail also added 400 extra seats on Argyle Line services through Glasgow and has since introduced hundreds of other extra seats across the network to boost capacity.
gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk
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