A report by Audit Scotland has said that overall ScotRail has managed the franchise well, but there is scope for improvement.
The report said that since taking over the franchise in 2004, ScotRail had managed the franchise effectively, reducing delays and improving passenger numbers and satisfaction levels on trains and at stations.
However, the railway company needs to take more account of passenger concerns when formulating the targets and measures that they use, according to the report.
"Scotland's trains are a vital service for people in Scotland and there are large amounts of public money invested in passenger rail services," Auditor General for Scotland, Robert Black said.
To improve this service, the report recommended that the company "take more account of passengers' concerns and wider government priorities in the targets and measures that Transport Scotland use".
It was also recommended that information about First ScotRail's performance should be made more readily available to passengers.
The report stated that the contract renewal process between Transport Scotland and ScotRail could have been better handled.
"Looking at Transport Scotland's decision earlier this year to award First ScotRail a three-year extension to its contract, the report said some details of the process could have been better managed," said Black.
"Transport Scotland secured a guaranteed investment of ВЈ73.1m from First ScotRail as part of the franchise extension, and they have put in place more demanding targets for aspects of service performance."
The auditor recommended that a systematic project plan be introduced for awarding the next franchise and that government should consider introducing an obligation for all public transport providers to consult with other affected providers when proposing service or timetable changes.
The First ScotRail franchise covers more than 95% of Scotland's internal train services and the long-distance sleeper service between Scotland and London. The network covers 3,032km, which is the highest of all British franchises, and has 341 stations.
By Daniel Garrun.
