Largs commuters set for ScotRail peak train fares increase

From September 30, peak times will be reinstated as the off-peak fares all day ends.

The off-peak fare will remain £12.

Conservative councillor Todd Ferguson has voiced his disappointment at the return to what he sees as excessive fares for early morning train users.

He said: "The decision taken by the Scottish Government to increase peak rail fares is absolutely shameless.

OFF THE RAILS: Cllr Todd Ferguson has slammed the peak fare increases (Image: Todd Ferguson)

“They keep bleating on about wanting to get more people out of their cars and onto our trains.

“However, hiking the price of a peak ticket between Largs and Glasgow to almost £19 will have exactly the opposite effect.

“Recently, my Scottish Conservative colleagues at Holyrood won a vote instructing the SNP to think again about increasing peak rail fares.

“For the sake of my constituents, I would encourage them to listen.”

The Scottish Conservatives called for the minister to “reverse” the decision which will see the cost of train tickets rise significantly at the end of the month.

Largs trainline is seeing a jump from £12 to £18.90 for return tickets to Glasgow during peak time (Image: Newsquest)

The Scottish Parliament voted in favour of that motion by 64 to 62.

Tory transport spokesperson Graham Simpson said the trial of removing peak fares had led to more people using the train.

On the trial coming to an end, he said: “If your policy is to get more people onto the roads, then this is genius.”

Scottish Labour described the peak fares as a “tax on workers”.

Cabinet secretary for transport, Fiona Hyslop, said: “The pilot primarily benefitted existing train passengers and those with medium to higher incomes.

"Although passenger levels increased to a maximum of around 6.8 per cent, it would require a 10 per cent increase in passenger numbers for the policy to be self-financing.

“The pilot will have been welcome in saving many passengers hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds during the cost of living crisis but this level of subsidy cannot continue in the current financial climate on that measure alone.

“I am aware, however, that a significant minority of people who cannot choose when they travel to and from work did and would benefit from lower priced rail travel – these are people who might find the return to peak fares challenging.

“Therefore it is important that we are introducing a 12-month discount on all ScotRail season tickets and permanently amending the terms of flexi-passes to allow for 12 single journeys for the price of 10, used within 60 days, equivalent to a 20 per cent discount for those who travel less frequently.

“Super off-peak tickets will also be reintroduced.

“The Scottish Government would be open to consider future subsidy to remove peak fares should UK budget allocations to the Scottish Government improve in future years.”