Earlier this week, ScotRail finally announced that its regular timetable will be restored on Monday, October 7.

This follows a period of vastly reduced services, introduced by the operator because of driver shortages and existing drivers not working overtime.

With the latter issue now resolved, regular scheduling can return.

While I welcome this news, it is long overdue. Inverclyde commuters have faced months of disruption.

It is therefore not surprising that customer satisfaction with ScotRail services has fallen by 5% since the start of the year.

And satisfaction with the frequency of services has also fallen sharply by 15%.

It is obvious that regular services are crucial to encouraging people to use our rail services.

But while ScotRail’s announcement is a step in the right direction, it is unlikely that satisfaction levels will be restored any time soon.

Last week saw the Scottish Government reintroduce peak fares for ScotRail travel, ending its year-long trial that saw them scrapped.

This means that, at peak times, the price of a return ticket from Gourock to Glasgow Central will rise by 58%, from £9.50 to £15.

The price of the same ticket from Greenock to Glasgow Central will rise by 53%, from £8.80 to £13.50.

In fact, as a result of Scottish Government increases to train ticket prices in April, tickets cost nearly 10% more now than they did before peak fares were scrapped – making their reintroduction a double whammy for passengers.

I know from speaking with Inverclyde commuters and rail unions that they feel peak fares are essentially a stealth tax on working people’s daily commute.

The more people are priced out of train travel, the more likely commuters will be forced back into cars - which will make it even more difficult for us to meet our climate targets.

And besides, the peak fare removal trail was working, with peak-time travel increasing by 40% across Scotland – even with the disruption caused by the reduced timetable.

People deserve reliable and affordable public transport – but Scottish Government policies are moving us in the wrong direction.