NICOLA STURGEON admitted today that ScotRail was in the “last-chance saloon,” as she came under renewed pressure to renationalise the failing national train operator.

The First Minister was put on the spot at First Minister’s Questions, when SNP MSP Christine Grahame asked: “Isn’t it time the Scottish government told ScotRail that it’s in the last-chance saloon?”

In acknowledging that there had been an “unacceptable level of cancellations” on the Borders Railway recently, Ms Sturgeon said ScotRail should treat the “remedial plan” for improvement “like a last-chance saloon.”