DUTCH train operator Abellio is facing embarrassment after thousands of Scots signed a petition demanding that the company to be stripped of the ScotRail contract.

More than 19,000 people backed the call for the Scottish government to act in response to numerous delays and cancellations, which was handed to Scottish Transport Minister Humza Yousaf yesterday.

Abellio took over the ScotRail franchise from First Group in 2014 and is currently raking in a profit of £1 million a month.