Labour will target disgruntled commuters returning to work on Monday to build support for nationalising Scotland’s railway.
Richard Leonard’s party said campaigners will be at train stations across the country including Dundee’s, with passengers reeling at the double whammy of price rises and poor service.
The sheer scale of delays and cancellations forced ScotRail to issue another apology over the weekend – as well as a warning that more disruption is inevitable.
Colin Smyth, for Scottish Labour, said it is “time to hit the brakes on rail privatisation” and take the running of train services in-house.
“Hard pressed passengers have just seen a rip-off fare rise following months of poor service, with late running, overcrowded trains,” the MSP said.
“The SNP claimed this was a world-leading deal, but it’s clear that more and more people are being persuaded by Labour’s plans for public ownership.
“That’s why all across Scotland today our activists will be out at local train stations with a clear and simple message – Labour will take our railways back into public hands.”
Last week’s fares rise coincided with major disruption on the rail network, which ScotRail has partly blamed on training staff on new trains and a union dispute about overtime and rest-day working.
In Scotland, regulated peak fares went up by 3.2% on Wednesday last week, compared with 2.2% for regulated off-peak tickets, an average of 2.8%.
Season tickets for eight key routes serving Tayside and Fife increased between £53 and £174.
Commuting on an annual season ticket to the central belt from Dundee instantly became £174 more expensive for Glasgow and £138 dearer for Edinburgh.
Transport Scotland said the fare rise was the lowest in the UK thanks to Scottish Government subsidies.
It dismissed Labour’s calls for a fares freeze saying they do not fully consider the impact on public finances.
Nicola Sturgeon told Holyrood last month that she wants MSPs to have full powers over the railways “so that this parliament does have the opportunity to nationalise our railways and to undo the damage of privatisation caused by the Tories”.
ScotRail Alliance managing director Alex Hynes said: “We are very sorry to ScotRail customers for our unacceptable service in parts of the country recently.
“While our teams work hard every day to deliver the service you demand, the reality is that we’ve fallen below the standard you expect and deserve.”
Mr Hynes explained how services had been cancelled so drivers and conductors could be trained on new trains and new routes.
He added: “We are working flat out to train conductors and drivers on Scotland’s railway so that we can return services to normal. But that will still take several weeks.
“Since December 9 we have trained 60 drivers and conductors, which is good progress, although we know we need to do more.
“But training will still take several weeks, and that means disruption will be ongoing for the foreseeable future.”
