Alcohol to be curbed on trains

New curbs on alcohol on trains are set to be announced, BBC Scotland has learned

The move is designed to tackle anti-social behaviour on rail services - a key complaint by passengers.

But it is not thought there will be an all-out, all-day ban.

The issue has been examined as part of a consultation undertaken by the government agency Transport Scotland alongside other bodies including Scotrail and the police.

One of the options being looked at was a complete ban on alcohol to improve behaviour onboard trains.

But BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor said he understood that, although new curbs will be announced "very shortly", they will likely fall short of a total ban.

Alcohol is already banned by ScotRail and the British Transport Police on certain specific services, such as travel to and from rugby and football games.

Transport Scotland's consultation document published last year stated: "One of the most distressing ways to spend a rail journey is to be subject to the bad behaviour of other passengers.

"This can be fuelled by excessive drinking of alcohol. Consideration is being given to whether there should be a ban on the consumption of alcohol on all trains in Scotland and we welcome views."

The potential curbs emerged on the day that <link> <caption>Transport Minister Keith Brown announced £5bn would be invested in Scotland's railways over five years from 2014</caption> <url href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-18521032" platform="highweb"/> </link> .