Regional MSP Jamie Greene clashed with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon over train time performance figures.

He voiced concerns that the Scottish Government had lowered ScotRail’s performances targets twice in two years in order to avoid triggering “an event of default”.

The West Scotland list MSP, who is also the Shadow Transport Minister, accused the First Minister of moving the goalposts without first informing parliament during the weekly session of First Minister’s Questions.

Mr Greene has long campaigned against falling punctuality at Largs which is regularly recorded as having 'some of the worst standards in Scotland'.

He argued that instead of moving the goalposts the Scottish Government’s priority should be improving punctuality and reliability across Scotland.

He called on the First Minister to end the secrecy over Scotland’s railways and take concerted action to ensure that towns Largs, Fairlie and West Kilbride are afforded the rail service that they deserve.

The MSP commented: “It was astonishing to read that the Scottish Government had twice made significant changes to ScotRail’s obligations without informing either parliament or the public. This seems to be the Scottish Government’s only solution to our rail crisis, to move the goalposts when the targets have not been met.

“North Ayrshire have consistently been on the receiving end of falling standards and late trains. A better plan of action would have been to tackle the problem rather than just conceding defeat and lowering the targets. The only people this has benefitted are the First Minister and Transport Secretary.

“Residents deserve a better rail service but most importantly, they deserve better transparency from this Scottish Government."

FM Nicola Sturgeon responded: "First, as I said, the ScotRail franchise is one of just a few rail franchises that require the holder to meet passenger satisfaction targets. That is a good thing. When it comes to amendments or adjustments, I am not sure whether Jamie Greene is seriously proposing that ScotRail should be held to account for factors that are outside its control—factors that are down, for example, to the failure of Network Rail, the responsibility for which is not devolved to this Parliament.

"Thirdly and finally, we continue to hold ScotRail to account. The results of the national rail passenger survey led to a formal remedial plan notice being issued by Transport Scotland on 8 February, which required ScotRail to submit a remedial plan.

"We have robust arrangements in place, and the Scottish Government will do what is required to ensure that ScotRail is held to account against those arrangements.