A KEY peak-time service from Fife to Edinburgh has been reinstated following a public outcry from ScotRail customers.

Commuters experienced a week of confusion when new timetable changes meant the 7.18am service from Glenrothes to Edinburgh would no longer stop at Dalgety Bay, Aberdour and Kinghorn stations last Monday.

Car parks at these stations were left empty as passengers realised they would need to depart elsewhere if they were to get to work on time.

Politicians called for the immediate reinstatement of the stops because of the significant disruption caused for commuters.

After just two days, the stop at Dalgety Bay was brought back – causing more confusion.

ScotRail then reinstated all stops from Tuesday this week following a catalogue of complaints.

Annabelle Ewing, MSP for Cowdenbeath, urged ScotRail to “take on board lessons about customer communication”.

She said: “These timetable changes came in on the 1st of October with very little warning and were extremely disruptive to the morning commute for a significant number of regular rail passengers.

“While I am delighted that pressure has resulted in their reinstatement, I sincerely hope that ScotRail will take on board some serious lessons about communication with their customers.”

Commuter Sonia Kerr was furious to witness the reinstated service still skip Dalgety Bay last Thursday while the information board on the platform told a different story. The 7.44am train due before had also been cancelled.

Since November 2017, the Press has been highlighting delays, cancellations, overcrowding and stop-skipping for West Fife commuters as part of our Crush Hour campaign.

Lesley Laird, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, has called on ScotRail's boss, Alex Hynes, to hold another public meeting. Mr Hynes told a packed Kirkcaldy Town House in February that services would improve significantly.

Lesley said: “We were told carriage lengths and services on peak-time services would be back to normal by the end of this year and Mr Hynes also pledged to return to Kirkcaldy to update passengers on ScotRail’s progress before then.

"We now understand a delay on new Hitachi trains – which were needed to release other rolling stock into Fife – has been extended until June 2020 at the earliest.

“Meanwhile, passengers continue to suffer. Only this week they were impacted by a new autumn timetable which removed rush-hour services.

"If that wasn’t bad enough, people trying to claim Delay Repay compensation for newly-scheduled trains were told the trains didn’t exist. This would be laughable if it weren’t so shocking.

"Given the circumstances, I’m asking Mr Hynes to do the honourable thing and return to Kirkcaldy - as he promised – to speak to passengers again at another public meeting before Christmas.

“It’s the very least my constituents deserve.”

A ScotRail spokesperson said: "We always listen to feedback from our customers and stakeholders and we're pleased to advise customers in Fife that the calls at Kinghorn and Aberdour have been reinstated."