ScotRail warned it could lose contract amid two-year wait for better service

ScotRail boss Alex Hynes was accused of being in denial yesterday as he confirmed passengers will have to wait two years for trains to run on time.

Now MSPs on a Holyrood committee have made it clear they expect improvements - and the Transport Secretary warned the company could lose its contract.

The train operator is supposed to ensure 92.5 per cent of services follow the timetable.

But the latest rolling monthly average results show just 87.6 per cent were on time.

ScotRail boss Alex Hynes says passengers will have to wait two years for trains to run on time (Liverpool Echo)

ScotRail promises 'significant improvements' to service after 'last-chance saloon' warning 

Hynes said: “We must do much, much more to regain the trust of our customers but things are moving in the right direction.

"ScotRail will face further challenges throughout the course of 2019 – training new drivers takes 18 months in total. We remain at the mercy of our train suppliers who have let us down badly in the past.

“And although Network Rail is investing more than ever to prepare for the extremes of Scottish weather, its unpredictable nature will continue to significantly impact Scotland’s railway.”

Passengers reacted angrily when timetable changes at the end of last year led to cancellations and delays with little or no warning.

Commuters complained that carriages can be packed and passengers left stranded on platforms while shortened trains pass without stopping.

Hynes said ScotRail will invest £18million to improve services.

He aims to recoup millions of pounds from train suppliers who have “failed so badly”.

Funds will help recruit 55 drivers and 30 conductors.

At Holyrood’s rural economy and connectivity committee, Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said failure to meet one of 19 commitments in a recent remedial plan could lead to the termination of parent company Abellio’s contract.

“As the First Minister has already said, they are in the last chance saloon,” he said.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles said: “I’m shocked that ScotRail seems to be in denial about the serious decline of performance levels over the past 18 months.

“The situation at the moment is completely unacceptable and there is no recognition of the impact that is having for passengers and the Scottish economy as a whole.”