A WEST of Scotland MSP has called for urgent action to improve the standard of rail services in West Dunbartonshire after the publication of ScotRail's latest punctuality figures.

The rail operator says it's recording "outstanding" levels of punctuality - even though official figures show barely half of trains to Balloch arrived at the station within a minute of their scheduled time.

The latest statistics show that for a rolling 12-month period to June 26, just 52.4 per cent of trains to Balloch arrived within 59 seconds of the time they were due to reach the station.

But under the industry standard - and less strict - Public Performance Measure (PPM) statistics, by which Transport Scotland holds ScotRail to account that figure, for the same period, rises to 89.7 per cent for trains to Balloch.

The PPM measures the percentage of trains arriving at their destination within five minutes of their scheduled time, rather than 59 seconds.

Across the whole of the ScotRail network, the PPM figure for the four weeks from May 30 to June 26 was 93.4 per cent.

But Ross Greer MSP, from the Scottish Greens, says the latest figures aren't good enough.

He said: “A significant reduction in both the frequency of trains and the number of passengers should have resulted in an improved overall performance, given congestion on the lines is much less of a problem.

"These statistics show just how deep the problems with our rail network are though. Scotrail staff have done an incredible job during the pandemic but the network clearly needs much more investment, including on the Balloch line.

“Having Scotrail brought back into public ownership will help. We need to go further though and build a modern, zero carbon rail system, like the Scottish Greens proposed in our Rail for All plan.

"That means upgrades to local rail services like to Balloch, potentially redualling the line.”

A ScotRail spokesperson said: “In these extremely testing times, we are recording outstanding, and sustained, high levels of punctuality.

"We know that a dependable service is a top priority for customers who rely on our services through the pandemic.

“It’s a tribute to the hard work and dedication of ScotRail staff and Network Rail colleagues and we are determined to continue to deliver in order to make the railway the best public transport option available when the coronavirus pandemic is behind us and more normal times return.”