SCOTRAIL should slash fares after hitting passengers with swingeing service cuts, according to train drivers’ union Aslef.

Earlier this week, the Scottish government-owned company announced a temporary timetable, axing hundreds of services across the country and cutting half of all Sunday trains.

ScotRail blame the decision on a shortage of drivers amid an Aslef overtime ban after workers voted to reject a below-inflation 2 per cent pay offer.

Describing the problem as “a mess of ScotRail’s own making,” Aslef’s Kevin Lindsay accused the company of trying to run a seven-day service with enough staffing for only six days.

The Scottish organiser said: “If they are only running 50 per cent of the service, then they should be giving passengers a 50 per cent reduction in their fares.

“If the Scottish government wants ScotRail staff to volunteer to work their days off then they must address the pay dispute and instruct ScotRail to get back around the negotiating table and come to it with a credible offer that our members deserve.”

A spokesperson for Scottish government agency Transport Scotland said: “We would encourage rail unions to continue meaningful dialogue with ScotRail, so that a mutually agreeable outcome can be reached as soon as possible.”