Passengers urged to avoid Scotrail’s crush hour trains

● Top ten busiest services revealed ● Trains up to one and a half times full

Scotrail’s most crowded train carries more than three times as many standing passengers as it should, the Scottish Government has admitted.

The 5:21pm Edinburgh to Glasgow Central via Shotts has up to 270 passengers but only 145 seats and adequate space for 40 standing, its Transport Scotland agency revealed.

However, up to 125 are forced to stand, with crowding worst between Haymarket in Edinburgh and Livingston South.

Transport Scotland said new trains would not operate on the line for another two years, and services on an alternative route via Livingston North were also busy.

Second worst was the 5:01pm Glasgow Central-east Kilbride service in the summer, which operates with up to 104 standing passengers when there is only enough room for 40.

The crush on the two-carriage train is greatest between Central and Pollokshaws West, but it is due to be extended to four cars next summer.

The most crowded morning rush hour train was in third place – the 8:07am Neilstonglasgow Central, with up to 163 standing in space for 70 betweenmuirendandcentral.

The three-carriage train will be increased to four “early” next year.

The busiest train in the east was placed fifth – the 5:53pm

0 Scotrail is to add extra carriages to ease overcrowding Edinburgh-glenrothes, with space for 84 standing passengers occupied by up to 139 between Haymarket and Inverkeithing.

Transport Scotland said there was the “potential introduction” of more services on the route from December next year.

The latest figures were compiled from passenger counts over the last six months.

Transport Scotland said they would help passengers plan their journeys.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf said: “We wholly appreciate busy trains can be uncomfortable and can assure passengers we are focused on delivering the value-for-money service they both want and deserve. We will achieve this in the near future.”

The Office of Rail and Road – the regulator – said there was no legal limit to total passengers carried.

It added: “There is no conclusive evidence linking crowding on trains with anything other than low level health and safety risks to individual passengers.”