The Scottish Government could this week be forced to reverse inflation-busting rail fare hikes.
MSPs will get a chance to demand the 3.8 per cent rise in ScotRail prices is scrapped before it hits commuters in the pocket in a parly vote tomorrow. The planned fares hike by the nationalised rail operator has sparked anger from unions and green groups who warn it will pile misery on hard-up passengers and force more people into their cars.
It follows a nine per cent hike in fares last year – despite the SNP bringing ScotRail into public ownership in 2022. It means, from April 1, a peak-time return ticket between Glasgow and Edinburgh will rise to an eye-watering £32.60.
The Holyrood motion tabled by the Scottish Greens also calls for the permanent scrapping of peak rail fares, a policy championed by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar at his recent party conference and previously backed by the Tories. All rival parties have also criticised the above-inflation rail hike.
A vote for the motion wouldn’t be binding but would represent a defeat for the government and pile on pressure to undo the damaging price rises. The Scottish Greens’ motion, to be tabled during a Holyrood debate on making rail cheaper in Scotland, is expected to call on SNP ministers “to reverse the 3.8 per cent increase to rail fares” from April 1, “permanently remove peak time rail fares” and introduce simplified integrated ticketing for all public transport “as soon as possible”.
The environmentalist party helped to introduce the trial scrapping unpopular peak fares during its power-sharing deal with the SNP, but Nats chiefs later brought them back saying the scheme hadn’t been successful enough. Transport spokesman Mark Ruskell MSP said: “Train fares in Scotland are among the highest in Europe, with peak fares being particularly punishing.
“If we want more people to leave their cars at home then rail has to be affordable and accessible for all. Particularly at a time when so many people are struggling, it is wrong to be asking them to pay even more just to get to work or study.”
He added: “When the Scottish Greens were in government we removed peak rail fares, only for the SNP to bring them back once we were out of the room. It is time to scrap them permanently.
“It was right to take ScotRail into public ownership, but there is no point in having a people’s railway if nobody can afford to use it. The Scottish Parliament has the chance to stand with households, families and regular commuters who are being stretched to their limit.”
The Greens said during the no peak fares pilot, passenger demand rose by 6.8 per cent giving an average 17 per cent saving to passengers. But the Scottish Government said passenger numbers hadn’t increased by enough to justify the costs.
A spokesman said: “Ministers have already stated many times that the peak fares pilot did not increase the shift from car to rail in sufficient numbers. This mirrors the results of Transport for London’s similar trial which also saw no significant increase in travel as a result of lower fares.
“Scottish ministers have said they would consider further initiatives on peak fares if the settlement from the UK Government was increased. In the meantime, we are keeping fares increases as low as possible, lower than elsewhere in the UK, while providing a 20 per cent discount on season tickets until September 2025 and permanent extra benefits on flexipasses.”