GREENS MSP Alison Johnstone has raised overcrowding issues on the trains from Musselburgh with the Scottish Government.

Commuters queuing for the rush hour services in the morning have reported packed carriages in recent weeks with several reports of people being left on the platform.

And the Musselburgh Courier reported last week how the 8.13am train from North Berwick to Edinburgh arrived at the station with standing room only.

Frustrated commuters have called on ScotRail to introduce extra services between the Honest Toun and the Scottish Capital.

However the train operator has said there is no short-term solution to the problem, insisting it monitors passenger use of the services.

Now Mrs Johnstone has called on the Scottish Government to intervene tabling a question at Holyrood asking "what action (the Scottish Government) will take to help alleviate reported overcrowding on ScotRail services between North Berwick and Edinburgh until longer trains come into service."

Her question echoes the call by Councillor Michael Veitch, East Lothian Council’s spokesperson for transport and roads, for Government intervention in what he described as “chronic overcrowding” on the services.

Councillor Veitch urged the Scottish Government to help the train operators identify rolling stock which could be used to increase services.

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.

“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 insisted there was nothing they could do until next year.

A spokesperson said: "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."