SOUTH of Scotland MSP Jim Hume has today said that the cancellation of services on the Borders rail link is "shocking and unacceptable".

Trains on the Tweedbank to Edinburgh line were cancelled on Wednesday and replaced by a bus service.

It follows complaints over a lack of seats, ticket machines and parking spaces.

Earlier this month the new line was hailed a "soaraway success", after more than 125,000 journeys were made during its first month.

Mr Hume, who has written to Transport Secretary and ScotRail to raise his concerns, said: "Passengers have contacted me about the overcrowding problem since the line was opened. In particular older people or people who have a health condition have been put off entirely from using the service because of the fear of being trapped in carriages like sardines. 

“ScotRail told me earlier this month that they were monitoring usage on certain services, but I’m afraid that’s just not good enough. If Scotrail or the Scottish Government need any evidence that more capacity is needed, then surely having to cancel services is evidence enough.  

“Borderers have waited a long time for the rail link. It’s high time they got the benefit. The Transport Secretary needs to be working as a priority with Scotrail to deliver this service properly.”