SCOTRAIL have been urged to investigate after a commuter found a syringe on the floor of their train during an early morning commute.
Passenger Laura McGinlay spotted the sharp, which could potentially spread diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, under her seat on her journey to work this morning (Thu).
Scottish Conservatives said the troubled travel operator need to look into the situation with “urgency”.
The commuter was travelling from Paisley Canal to Glasgow Central at just before 8am today when she spotted the health hazard.
She posted an image of the syringe on to the Scotrail Facebook page with the caption: “Syringe on the Paisley Canal to Central train just now.
“Aren’t the trains cleaned? This could be dangerous.”
Scotrail social media staff replied asking her to inform the crew on the train “immeadiately”, but by the time Laura was able to reply, she had already reached her destination.
As well as injury via cut, exposure to used needles poses a risk of potentially spreding blood-borne diseases.
The NHS state: “Once someone has used a needle, viruses in their blood such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV may contaminate it.
“This includes needles used to inject illegal drugs. Blood can also contaminate sharps.”
Scottish Conservatives transport spokesman Liam Kerr said: ““Scotrail must investigate this case as a matter of urgency.
“If the syringe was left overnight on the train and not removed for the morning commute, that is clearly a major problem.
“ScotRail will no doubt be taking this up with their cleaning contractors to ensure that standards are maintained.”
A ScotRail Alliance spokeswoman said: “Our trains are cleaned regularly but we ask that anyone who sees an item such as a syringe on one of our trains alerts a member of train or station staff immediately so that it can be safely removed.
“The safety of our customers and staff is our first priority at all times.”
The spokeswoman explained that the train in the image had been identified and clearners had been through the carriage in question.
This is not the first time in the past few months that Scotrail have come under fire for the quality of their service.
In December, a mum slammed the organisation after her 16-year-old disabled daughter was forced to travel in a container meant for transporting luggage, as there was no other space for her wheelchair.
A Scotrail spokesman later said that wheelchair users should not have been allowed to board the service.
Last month, they were criticised after giving an elderly passenger a refund of just £1 for a cancelled train journey.
