EAST Lothian’s transport chief is signalling for urgent talks with rail bosses, saying the Edinburgh to North Berwick service is now “at breaking point”.

Councillor Michael Veitch has condemned the “chronic lack of capacity” on the line after passengers were once again left stranded on the platform at Musselburgh.

Musselburgh councillors also criticised the service, with Councillor Stuart Currie hitting out at “a catalogue of failures”.

Mr Veitch, East Lothian Council’s transport spokesman and ward member for Dunbar and East Linton, has asked that East Lothian Council make formal representation to ScotRail on the issue and request a meeting with the head of ScotRail Alliance.

Passengers were left on the platform at Musselburgh rail station on Tuesday as the 8.23am train was too full.

A passenger who did get on the train said it was so jam-packed that someone fainted on it, resulting in the train being cancelled at Waverley Station rather than going on to Haymarket.

The incident comes less than a week after the 8.13am train was cancelled last Wednesday, with the overcrowded 8.23am service then leaving passengers on the platform at Musselburgh.

Mr Veitch said: “The chronic lack of capacity on the Edinburgh to North Berwick rail service, especially at peak times, and west of Wallyford, means the situation is now clearly at breaking point.

“Things are only going to get worse, and while the North Berwick platform extension is welcome, commuters will only notice a difference if longer trains are also provided.

“I understand that the route will receive brand new electric trains over the next few years, which is very welcome, but the existing problem must also be addressed.

“I would therefore urge ScotRail and Transport Scotland to work with other stakeholders to procure the necessary rolling stock as a matter of urgency.

“I note for example that the hiring of two local-hauled sets on the Fife Circle line has provided some much-needed capacity on this busy commuter route, and would be very interested to know if a similar solution could be identified for the East Lothian services, at least in the short term.

“I have asked that the council make formal representation to ScotRail on this matter and to request a meeting with the head of ScotRail Alliance.”

Mr Currie, ward member for Musselburgh East and Carberry, claimed rail bosses needed to “get their act together”.

He added: “We are asking people to leave their cars at home and take public transport. The least they can expect is trains that turn up and when they turn up are fit for purpose. Passengers are paying top dollar for these tickets and deserve a first-class service. A lot of people are being failed and let down by the company.”

Mr Currie claimed that ticket machines broke down, which resulted in 25-minute queues to buy tickets on arrival at Waverley.

Councillor Fraser McAllister, ward member for Musselburgh West, is planning to write to ScotRail, also saying it needed to “up its game”.

He said: “The problem is getting worse and will get infinitely worse when new housing is built in the Musselburgh area. They don’t have enough carriages and need more ticket machines for cash transactions. It is really unsatisfactory.”

Councillor John Caldwell, ward member for Musselburgh East and Carberry, added: “It is unacceptable for anyone to be left stranded at any railway station, particularly when many people rely on this mode of transport to access their workplace.

"I know the problem lies further down the line in regards to the length of the platform; however, I also know it is being addressed. Unfortunately the responsibility lies with ScotRail and the council is currently putting pressure on them to expedite the matter.”

Councillor John Williamson, ward member for Musselburgh West, said: “The passenger numbers using this particular train are well known and I find it difficult to believe that an extra carriage cannot be sourced for this train.

"Something needs to be done immediately to meet the needs of the paying passengers, most of whom do not have the option of using a different train.”

Tom Thorburn, chairman of the Rail Action Group East of Scotland (RAGES), said: “The overcrowding issue on North Berwick services continues, particularly around the peak.”

He stressed that RAGES had raised problems, particularly at Musselburgh on Waverley-bound trains, with ScotRail directors at a meeting in December. He added that last month, the issue was highlighted at a meeting with the transport minister by then East Lothian MSP Iain Gray and RAGES.

Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP candidate for Lothian region, said: “People are only too well aware that the trains they need to get to work on time are too busy. This issue needs urgent action.”

A ScotRail Alliance spokeswoman said: “The arrival of our new electric fleet from autumn 2017 will free up more carriages for use on services that are particularly busy without reducing capacity elsewhere on the network.”

The Scotrail Alliance recognised that demand for rail travel between North Berwick and Edinburgh was high, especially during busy commuter times. It said it had “a finite” number of carriages available and did its “utmost” to match these to demand across Scotland.