YOUR front-page headline ("Misery on the trains: ScotRail hit by record penalties", The Herald, February 19) is somewhat over the top notwithstanding the problems and difficulties of ScotRail train services that are the cause of much vexation to both the travelling public and politicians of all persuasions.

As I have commented previously, other public bodies – the NHS and education in particular – are similarly bedevilled by those whom I term "outsiders" issuing reams of largely meaningless percentage structured figures.

Your editorial ("ScotRail still far off from destination of a better service", The Herald, February 19) is well structured in most respects. I would add to this by stating to all those who clamour for whatever changes they deem necessary, be careful what you wish for.

John Macnab,

175 Grahamsdyke Street, Laurieston, Falkirk.

RAIL passenger complaints of not enough seats and of station-skipping are caused by Abellio’s attempts to cut costs.

Abellio does not own the rolling stock it uses, so providing extra seats would mean hiring extra coaches, which would incur extra costs. Late arrivals of trains at termini are financially punished, so station-skipping makes up time and lessens the fines for Abellio.

When the contract was set up, Transport Scotland should have specified the number of seats required for each and every departure on the ScotRail timetable, and certainly should have banned station-skipping.

Ian Maclean,

3 Hamilton Crescent, Bishopton.