SCOTRAIL customers have slammed the rail provider after a shortage of train carriages caused chaos for morning commuters.

One traveller even claimed drivers were refusing passengers to board a train at the usually bustling Shettleston because it was so crowded.

The Evening Times reported earlier this morning how ScotRail commuters were left with reduced carriages between Glasgow Central and East Kilbride because of a train fault.

One passenger who was affected was on the Airdrie to Balloch service this morning which stopped at Bellgrove shortly after 8.30am.

Laura Walker, from Dennistoun, described how “every coach was crammed.”

The 43-year-old told the Evening Times: “There were only about four coaches when there should be seven.

“This is an absolutely ridiculous service. It’s completely unacceptable.

“The driver told me some of the carriages were undergoing maintenance and they weren’t ready yet this morning.

“This happens regularly - it’s not a one-off.

Glasgow Times:

“It’s such a horrible way to start your day: standing face-to-face with people absolutely crammed up against them.

“People were standing all the way along every aisle.

“It’s really unpleasant, and Scotrail-Abellio should not be getting away with this, especially when they’ve just raised the ticket prices.”

ScotRail acknowledged that some services have been running with fewer carriages than planned today.

A spokesman for the rail provider said: “We’re really sorry to customers who have experienced disruption today.

“We know that one of the biggest concerns is busy trains and we’re working hard to deliver the level of service our customers expect.”

He added: “We run more than 2,400 services every single weekday and every available train we have is out on the network to get our customers where they need to be.”

ScotRail’s performance has been heavily criticised following the introduction of a new timetable at the start of December, with a shortage of staff cited as a key reason for a number of cancellations across the service.

The rail operator said a £5.6 million recruitment drive, with 140 additional front-line staff now in place, would help to improve the service.

It also said funding has been allocated for broadband at multiple stations, helping to improve the service provided by ticket vending machines and customer information screens.