North-east commuters could find themselves stranded after the transport minister admitted no solution has been found to plug the gap left by timetable changes to CrossCountry train services later this year.
The operator has proposed scrapping four trains between Aberdeen and Edinburgh at the end of the year.
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP, Mike Rumbles, has raised fears the changes could leave people in the region struggling to find train services to Edinburgh.
And he has accused the SNP Government of being “asleep at the wheel” after Transport Minister Humza Yousaf admitted struggling ScotRail would be unable to take on the services.
Mr Yousaf claimed Mr Rumbles’ comments were “false accusations”.
But North East MSP Mr Rumbles responded: “The Scottish Government is asleep at the wheel while thousands of rail passengers from the north-east and Fife could be left high and dry.
“The minister has more or less admitted he is in the dark about how the service franchise is run, and has done nothing about a solution.
“The government will need to get a grip of this quickly if it wants to put a replacement service in place before the end of the year.”
Mr Rumbles urged Mr Yousaf to work with his Westminster counterpart to resolve the situation.
He added: “Rail users have been let down time and time again by this incompetent Scottish Government.
“We need assurances that someone is taking this issue seriously and that the minister will find a solution before commuters are forced to make changes to their travel arrangements.”
A spokesman for Mr Yousaf said: “The Scottish Government has responded to the DFT consultation to say we oppose any diminution in service.
“Instead of making false accusations, the Liberal Democrats should join our efforts in opposing any Tory plans to reduce services to Scotland.
“Old habits may die hard for the Liberals and propping up a Tory government for five years is precisely why they have virtually been wiped out in the north-east of Scotland.”
