Labour has argued that missed benchmarks and fines for ScotRail strengthen calls for public ownership of train operators.

The party said the latest figures show that ScotRail has been fined a total of £13m since it took over the franchise.

The latest Service Quality Incentive Regime report shows 23 benchmarks were missed out of 38.

Performance on CCTV and security and litter were among those that were not achieved resulting in financial penalties imposed.

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Benchmarks include performance on CCTV and security, which ScotRail scored 76.7per cent against a target of 95 per cent, and litter and contamination, where the franchise scored 63 per cent against a target of 95 per cent.

This takes total fines for the franchise so far to £12,909,706.

Labour said the figures would strengthen calls for public ownership.

Colin Smyth, Transport Spokesman, said: “The next Labour government will end this chaos by bringing our railways into public ownership and delivering a transport system that people can rely on.”

The financial penalties imposed on ScotRail for substandard facilities however, have fallen despite more than half the targets for trains and stations being missed.

Transport Scotland's latest performance figures reveal ScotRail has been hit with £687,422 in penalties for falling short of required standards on issues including litter, timetables and toilet conditions at stations, and reservations on board trains.

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Despite missing 23 of the 38 targets between April and June, the money withheld from the train operator has fallen for the sixth consecutive quarter and is down from £1,180,571 during the same period last year - a 43% drop.

ScotRail's head of customer operations Phil Campbell said: "Everyone at ScotRail is working flat out to improve the quality of our service, and these figures show the considerable impact the efforts of our people have already had.

"The investment in brand new and upgraded trains, better stations and improved infrastructure is delivering the service our customers expect and deserve."

A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: "These latest Squire results are evidence of the recent positive progress and the ongoing efforts to ensure this continues, particularly around staff recruitment and training.

"While penalties have reduced over six consecutive periods, we recognise there is still work to be done and will continue to press ScotRail to deliver the high standards both ministers and passengers expect and deserve."