A LOCAL politician was left "enraged", claiming he was asked by ScotRail to keep details private on "minor changes" to services.

The changes, which affect the Alloa-Stirling-Dunblane line, came into effect this week, the train company saying it is to "ensure a more stable and robust service".

MSP Alexander Stewart received an initial email about the changes and was asked to not forward the information, it is understood this was due to a communication strategy being finalised.

It is further understood he received a second email with information to be used publicly closer to the changes coming into effect this week, but a row already ensued.

Mr Stewart said: "I am enraged to have received this email directly from ScotRail.

"As MSPs, we are responsible for being accountable to our residents and constituents and I vehemently object to being used in this way."

Last week, ScotRail put out a message, advising customers to check online if their journey has been affected.

The MSP continued: "ScotRail has been widely criticised from all quarters for its acute lack of communication and keeping its cards close to its chest.

"But to wait until only a couple of weeks prior to the changes taking effect before putting out the details privately and then sliding it in – hopefully by them, relatively unnoticed – to their journey-planning website and requesting a Member of the Scottish Parliament not to share the details publicly is beyond unacceptable.

"From what can be seen in the email; the company admits to a particular SDA train performing poorly and way below its required PPM [Public Performance Measure], however this is precisely the details that you want to be made public and that they admit to mistakes and poor performance, with a workaround to improving and not to try and hide them."

A spokesman for ScotRail said: "We are absolutely to committed to communicating with our customers and we took the step of contacting MSP Alexander Stewart as part of that process, giving him the opportunity to assist us in reaching everyone who uses our services.

"We always contact elected members in the first instance to give them as much information as possible and we did ask if they could use every channel available to help us reach our customers.

"The minor changes we are making to some services from Monday, September 30, will ensure a more stable and robust service during the challenging autumn period and we encourage all customers to check and see if there is any change to the services they use."

As part of the work to get ready for the season, rail cleaning trains and leaf buster teams will be out to make sure there is grip on the tracks.