Bosses are finally removing the clapped-out 'biscuit tin' 314-class trains from service in Inverclyde

The near 40-year-old rolling stock — slated by passengers are noisy, dirty, draughty and uncomfortable, with poor heating and no toilets - have sparked a raft of complaints.

As of Monday a trio of these three-carriage trains will be replaced with modern and comfortable 380-class alternatives, of the type which were controversially removed from service here at the end of 2016.

Meanwhile, capacity will be increased because one of the newer trains will have four carriages.

A ScotRail spokesman said: "The introduction of the modern class 380 trains is part of our £475 million rolling stock investment, which is helping us to build the best railway that Scotland has ever had.

"The majority of the services between Glasgow and Inverclyde are now operated by class 380 trains and we will continue to introduce more of them over the course of the next few months.

"We hope that our customers will enjoy the enhanced travelling experience and the boost in seat numbers."

The old trains were built in 1979 and were brought back at the end of 2016 to replace some of the modern Class 380 models re-routed to Edinburgh for driver training ahead of the delivery of a fleet of 70 new electric trains.

The change was today welcomed by MSP Stuart McMillan.

Mr McMillan said: "Finally this torturous saga is nearing an end.

"Passengers on the Inverclyde lines have been saddled with these trains for far too long, a point I have made to ScotRail and their chief executive on numerous occasions.

"While I understand this was as a result of the new train order ScotRail placed with Hitachi being delayed, Inverclyde clearly has been the area which has had to endure these trains the most.

"While normal service will not fully resume on Monday, this is a very welcome and positive step in the right direction and I’m pleased that two of the journeys benefitting from the return of the modern 380 trains will be peak services."