SCOTRAIL should have foreseen the high levels of demand to use Borders Railway trains which has led to overcrowding and other complaints about quality of service in the first week of the new railway, according to rail consultant and author, David Spaven.

Spaven, whose Waverley Route: the battle for the Borders Railway was published earlier this year, responded to reports that rail chiefs l had found the levels of interest in travelling “remarkable”.

He said: "The level of interest in travelling on the railway wasn’t at all ‘remarkable’ – it was highly predictable, and ScotRail were warned by campaigners, but chose to ignore well-informed advice.

"Professional railway managers should not be deploying two-coach trains at the busiest travel times, when  4 or 6 coach trains are needed. The combination of Transport Scotland’s cut-back in double track from 16 to 9½ miles and poor management by ScotRail has led to a pretty shoddy experience for too many travellers who are new to rail.

"It was critical to get things right in the first few weeks of the railway, but the opportunity to build on all the goodwill towards the new railway has been partly squandered.”

Earlier today the Border Telegraph revealed that former Borders MP David Steel has questioned whether the potential of the railway's return to the region, following an absence of almost half a century, had been underestimated.

His comments followed complaints over a lack of seats, ticket machines and parking spaces on the new line.

And, it is feared that it could put some people off travelling by train unless the "teething issues" are quickly resolved.

South of Scotland MSP Jim Hume has today submitted questions to the Scottish Government on the need for extra capacity on the new Borders rail link. The former Borders councillor has also raised the issue with ScotRail.

Mr Hume said: “It’s no surprise that the rail link is proving incredibly popular, but there are concerns from constituents about capacity long term particularly those people who are elderly or who have health conditions and who perhaps need the reassurance of a comfortable journey with a seat.

“I’m pleased that Scotrail has said it will increase capacity on some journeys, but clearly there are particular pinch points that also need to be considered immediately.

“Whilst I appreciate that there will be a novelty factor, the link in my view will continue to be heavily used long term and these issues of capacity must be sorted out now to get the full benefit of this fantastic transport link.”