FED-UP passengers have tipped CalMac to make plain sailing of running our railways.

Their vote of confidence came as the ferry operator emerged as one of two options being considered by ministers to take over the ScotRail franchise.

4 The ferry operator is one of two options being considered to take over ScotRail

Over the next couple of weeks, the Scottish Government will decide between the "Caledonian MacTrain" bid and an entirely new company set up to take control of the £2.5billion franchise.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf has made clear his deep unhappiness with Scotrail's beleaguered Dutch-owned operator Abellio.

The firm faces having its 10-year deal terminated early following another set of disastrous performance figures and record-breaking fines for failing to meet targets.

And train users welcomed news the west coast ferry firm may be chosen to get services on track.

4 Caledonian MacBrayne could take over the £2.5 billion franchise

Season ticket-holder Ryan Carmichael, 41, of Newlands, Glasgow, said: "We have a third-world service with nowhere to sit and sky-high prices.

"Its about time someone else was given a chance. I’m sure CalMac could make a good job of it."

Robert Seggie, 60, of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, said: "The service is a shambles. CalMac can’t be worse than the ones running it now."

Advertising student Abby Park, 22, of Glasgow, added: "If switching to CalMac gets the trains running on time, I’m all for it."

The SNP government recently changed the law to allow a not-for-profit Scots operator — such as nationalised CalMac — to make a bid.

And a highly-placed source said: "We have struggled to make the ScotRail franchise work for years, long before Abellio came along.

"So we’re not going to rush this and get it wrong."

4 Transport Minister Humza Yousaf

A major detail to be resolved is the question of EU "state aid" rules, which limit the government cash that can go into a business.

Abellio is meant to operate the franchise until 2025 but a break clause could be activated in 2020 if it fails to hit performance targets.

At the end of last year, Mr Yousaf said a move to bring ScotRail into public hands by 2020 would be "hugely ambitious".

Last week, it was revealed Abellio faces fines of £1.6million after missing nearly two-thirds of its targets in the final quarter of 2017

That came after the firm was fined over £3million for its performance in the previous three quarters of 2017/18.

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Its spokesman said: "We have no problem competing with a public bid, should that be what the Scottish Government decides to do."

And a spokesman for Transport Scotland, which includes CalMac in its remit, said: "It is vital we take the time to think through the various scenarios.

"A decision is expected in the coming months."

10-year contract sparked row

4 Dutch firm took over ScotRail franchise in 2015

DUTCH firm Abellio took over the ScotRail franchise in 2015 from Aberdeen-based FirstGroup which previously ran the service.

The decision to give the £2.5billion contract to Abellio triggered a political row.

Their bid included plans for cut-price fares to jobseekers, free Wi-Fi and advance £5 fares between Scots cities along with a vow to put on more trains.

But transport unions and Labour condemned the award of the 10-year deal to a company based overseas.

andrew.nicoll@the-sun.co.uk

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