The new service almost doubles the number of trains every day on the busy Kilmarnock to Glasgow line.

It was introduced yesterday with 68 trains operating between Kilmarnock and Glasgow, and 57 of them will now stop at Dunlop and Kilmaurs. Both villages had previously been served by 36 trains.

The only trains which won’t stop in either village – with the exception of through services – are off-peak services to and from Carlisle and Stranraer.

Communities in the villages of Dunlop and Kilmaurs forced transport chiefs to make major changes to their £28.5million masterplan to improve commuter rail services between Kilmarnock and Glasgow.

Transport Scotland had decided to miss out the small village stations to achieve shorter journey times until a public outcry forced officials to rethink their new high-frequency timetable.

Ian Richard, of Kilmaurs Community Council, chaired a special rail committee set up to campaign for both villages.

He said: “Before the new service both villages had an hourly service. If you missed a train you were inclined to jump in your car and drive to Glasgow rather than wait an hour for another train.

“The half-hourly service will make a lot of difference. People who do miss the train will be far more inclined to wait for the next one.”

Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, acknowledged the local campaign when he launched the new timetable.

He said: “The people of East Ayrshire voiced strong support for these services. Local communities along the route, particularly those in Dunlop, Kilmaurs and Stewarton, will have access to more seats and more services.”