The chief of ScotRail has warned that railway services may be cut back due to the fall in demand in light of the Scottish government's Stay at Home advice.

Addressing the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee at Holyrood, Alex Hynes said that demand had fallen to 10% of pre-pandemic levels, with ScotRail currently operating 80% of its services from before the first lockdown.

Mr Hynes explained that the current service operation does not offer value for money.

He told the committee: “We are actively considering further reductions to the train service because demand has fallen back to 10% of normal.

“That is something that we’re literally working on at the moment.”

Due to the pandemic, space must be left on trains to allow for passengers to socially distance but Mr Hynes feels that demand has dropped so far that trains could be shortened while still allowing the necessary space.

“It’s an opportunity to operate shorter trains and still provide space for physical distancing and an opportunity to operate fewer train services,” he told MSPs.

“At the moment, we’re operating about 80% of train services for about 10% of the demand, which is not good value for money for the taxpayer, so further train service reductions are under consideration.”

Mr Hynes did not say when an announcement on changes to schedules would be announced.