FRUSTRATED commuters have called on ScotRail to introduce extra train services to ease the pressure on the morning journey from Musselburgh to Edinburgh.

Peak services through the Honest Toun are regularly packed with people trying to get into work and over the last couple of weeks there have been numerous complaints about travellers being turned away from packed carriages.

Councillor Michael Veitch, East Lothian Council’s spokesperson for transport and roads, has described the “chronic overcrowding” on the services as making life a “misery” for commuters.

He has called on the Scottish Government to help the train operators identify rolling stock which could be used to increase services.

ScotRail, however, insists there is no short-term solution and has warned passengers they might have to endure overcrowding for another 12 months at least.

The Courier was at Musselburgh Railway Station on Monday morning. By the time the 8.13am Edinburgh train pulled up at platform two, there were well over 100 people waiting to get on.

The three-carriage train was already standing-room only when it arrived and it looked unlikely they would all make it on but somehow they did, and as the doors to the carriages closed people were pushed up against them like sardines.

The platform stood empty but quickly began to fill as more passengers arrived for the 8.23am train.

This time it had four carriages and was able to more comfortably accommodate those waiting.

Leanne Shearer, 24, of Inveresk Road, Musselburgh, said she had recently started taking the train to work in Edinburgh.

She said: “I get the 8.23 because it goes to Haymarket and I work at that end of the city; usually it's the more popular and it can be a risk to wait in case you can’t get on.

“I’ve had to apologise to my boss a few times for being late because I couldn’t get on the train. We need an additional one at 8.34 or thereabouts to pick up those left behind.”

Jack Forthouse, 39, of Newbigging, also called for an extra train. He said: “I usually get the 8.13 because I’ve been caught out by the 8.23 being full a few times. It's madness that ScotRail don’t provide enough services when we are told driving into the city is bad.

“The Scottish Government should ensure they can provide more services if they want us to leave our cars at home.”

Mr Veitch echoed passengers' concerns about the current service. He said: “The chronic overcrowding on the North Berwick line, especially between Edinburgh and Musselburgh, is making life a misery for East Lothian commuters and I have asked that formal representation be made from East Lothian Council to ScotRail raising our concerns.

“The council is also actively pursuing the reopening of East Linton station, which would lead to the introduction of new services between Edinburgh and Berwick-on-Tweed, thereby also providing additional stops at Musselburgh.

“I understand that plans are in place for Network Rail to extend the platform at North Berwick which would allow more carriages. In the interim, it would be welcome if the Scottish Government could assist ScotRail in resourcing additional rolling stock.”

ScotRail said: “It’s not currently possible to add more carriages to the 8.23 Musselburgh to Haymarket service. We know that it’s frustrating for our customers when trains are busy, but unfortunately there’s no short-term solution.

“Adding carriages to any service before the arrival of new electric trains in December 2017 would mean having to take carriages from elsewhere in Scotland, and we have to balance demand fairly across the country.

“Nevertheless, we are carrying out detailed passenger counts across all routes. This information may provide the opportunity to re-allocate trains before the introduction of our new fleet."