A SCOTRAIL employee known only as Angus has been applauded by the community and MSPs after telling someone who expressed strongly homophobic views not to use their trains again.

The exchange began after Glasgow's Pride, the organisers of Glasgow's LGBT pride events, tweeted to congratulate ScotRail on being shortlisted for the Travel Company Award at the 2020 Proud Scotland Awards.

In amongst the largely celebratory replies one anonymous account user, named only JH1949B wrote: "You sicken the majority of your customers to virtue signal to this acronym that aims to grow to include, Paedophilia, Incest, Bestiality & Necrophillia, in their 'anything goes' philosophy."

It was then that Angus from ScotRail stepped in, saying simply: "Delete your account. ^Angus."

JH1949B the asked if that was "an official Scotrail reply?" to which Angus promptly answered: "Yes."

Glasgow's Pride then responded to the exchange saying: "Thank you @ScotRail there is a long way to go before we have equality and thats why #pride is so important and that Scotland has a national awards."

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The anonymous user then wrote: "You'd all be screaming to the rooftops if Straight Pride marches took place. You'd be shouting discrimination.

"I don't like your lifestyle, I don't discriminate, I obey the law - if I offend you in one tweet, so what? You lot offend me day in & day out."

After this the official ScotRail account, manned by Angus, replied: "Please don't take one of our trains again. We don't tolerate bigotry. #LoveIsLove ^Angus"

The reply was widely praised, with one Matt Dawson writing: "Wish Northern were this good, all we get is apologies and late trains.. ScotRail are here outing homophobes!"

The Scotrail tweet prompted other users to label Angus a "legend" and a "star", and call for him to be given a pay rise.

Monica Lennon, the Scottish Labour shadow cabinet secretary for health, then shared the tweet, saying: "Be like Angus."

Lennon's contribution was in turn liked by Colin Smyth MSP and Cailyn McMahon, the convener of Young Scots for Independence, among others.

The Proud Scotland Award for a travel company aims to thank "a company that delivers exceptional service to LGBTQ+ travellers at home or abroad or has shown real commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ employees". 

It is unclear if Angus's support for the LGBT community will influence the judges' decision ahead of the finalists being announced in August.