WEST FIFE commuters arrived back after the Easter break to find two peak services had been cancelled back-to-back on the Fife Circle line on Tuesday morning.

HUNDREDS of passengers in Dunfermline and Rosyth then faced the prospect of cramming into just THREE carriages in the hope they would arrive at work at some point on Tuesday morning.

No trains passed these stations between 7.15am and 8.32am causing unbearable conditions where passengers witnessed one gentleman faint, slumped on packed-in commuters surrounding him.

Journalist Tom Freeman told the Press that ScotRail treated Fife passengers with "utter contempt" and the level of service provided was now a risk to safety.

Speaking on Tuesday, he said: "I arrived half an hour to 40 minutes late at work which is kind of the norm now.

"There are two long diesel trains for the peak services so essentially you had 15 carriages' worth of people on a three-carriage train, bearing in mind it's normally at capacity already when it leaves Dunfermline Town.

"I am just basically unreliable now.

"When I decided I had had enough in December, I started getting the bus but unfortunately it takes too long and my priority as a father is getting back to read my daughter a bedtime story.

"So I went back to ScotRail with my tail between my legs.

"At one point, I wanted the trains to run on time, then I just wanted them to run and now I just want them to keep us safe."

Countless readers contacted the Press – many worried about their job because of lateness.

Sally Gail explained that she arrived 45 minutes late and when explaining to senior management the cause, was told she needed to move to Edinburgh.

Steven Carr-Nelson added: "The Scotrail App showed 'good service' across all lines but national rail showed cancelled. Commuters aren’t even getting the correct information.

"I’m so tired of it, it’s almost a nice surprise to get home on time now."

Tom, 44, believes that the safety risk is so severe now that ScotRail needs to just hold their hands up and admit they need to run a reduced service.

He continued: "The gentleman was pale and sweaty when he fainted and he did not fall – he just slumped onto others because there was no room.

"Everyone tried to give some air and he eventually came around.

"I've seen people leave on a stretcher at South Gyle though and also a wheelchair at Inverkeithing and Dunfermline Town.

"A guy once cracked his head on a table and somebody pulled the emergency cord but the trains are so old that it took 40 minutes to get it going again and this man's head was bleeding.

"ScotRail knew this would be an issue because two years ago it was published that this is one of the busiest services in Scotland but still we are getting the minimum.

"I know I'm not alone in thinking it's affecting my quality of life and mental health.

"I think we are past the point of trying to run a service and keeping people safe is the issue.

"If they cannot run the service then reduce it to one an hour and put 12 carriages on – at least we would be safe.

"It's utter contempt."

When asked for a response specific to Tuesday's travelling conditions, complacent ScotRail staff simply parroted the same response they've been giving for months: "This has been a challenging time for Scotland’s railway, and we’re sorry to customers who have experienced disruption to their journey.

"Everyone at the ScotRail Alliance is working flat-out to provide customers with the service they deserve. We are training as many drivers and conductors as possible every day, and this will deliver continual improvements in the coming weeks and months."