UNDER-fire railway bosses who slashed 'fast' train services in Inverclyde earlier this year are facing demands to honour a pledge to reinstate the time-saving runs.

Publicly-owned ScotRail told the people of the district that it would come up with a new timetable and put the revised plan out to public consultation.

But the train operator - nationalised by the Scottish Government - appears no nearer to a solution after promising one several months ago.

Now Gourock councillor Martin McCluskey is demanding answers from both the company and the government.

Councillor McCluskey told the Telegraph: "Both ScotRail and the SNP Government have questions to answer.

“ScotRail told people across Inverclyde that a new timetable with more fast trains would be put out for consultation.

“Many months on and we still have not seen any proposed timetable.

“Both ScotRail and the Government - who now own our train service - need to sort this out."

Labour man Mr McCluskey added: "I have written again to the ScotRail managing director [Alex Hynes] and to the transport minister [Fiona Hyslop] asking when people across Inverclyde can expect to see the revised - and improved - timetable we were promised.

"I have had many complaints from constituents about the reduction in services both during the day and later at night.

“Almost 30 minutes has been added to some return journeys between Gourock and Glasgow.

“It's just not good enough."

ScotRail removed a number of off-peak limited stop ‘fast’ services from local lines earlier this year as part of a major timetable shake-up.

Bosses claimed the move was an interim measure as part of the recovery from the impact the pandemic had on driver training.

Railway bosses say the revised timetable will help local passengers by reducing the number of cancellations that have to be made due to driver shortages.

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A ScotRail spokesperson told the Telegraph that it had been engaging with local stakeholders who had raised concerns about the timetable change.

They said the group would soon share its plans for future timetables in Inverclyde, which it believes will help grow passenger numbers.

The Telegraph understands that the operator is currently finalising approvals with Scottish Rail holdings and Transport Scotland to allow its consultation process to begin.

Scott Prentice, ScotRail Head of Business Development, said: “The changes made to our timetables in Inverclyde are an interim measure, and we’ve been engaging with local politicians who have raised concerns.

“These meetings have provided us with valuable feedback from them and their constituents which will help shape future timetable changes.

“We’ll be sharing our plans for Inverclyde with customers and stakeholders soon, and we look forward to hearing their views on those proposals.

“In the interim, our priority is to provide communities served by Gourock to Glasgow trains with a reliable half hourly daytime service, which has additional fast services at peak times.”

A Transport Scotland spokesperson added: “ScotRail is designing new future timetables for services in Inverclyde, which will help grow passenger numbers.

“ScotRail advises that these plans will be shared with customers and stakeholders soon, and any feedback on the proposals will help to shape further changes.”