Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, has announced that the pilot scheme to scrap peak ScotRail fares has been extended for an additional three months. The trial, which was initially introduced in October 2023 and extended until the end of June, will now remain in place until the end of September.
Under this scheme, rush-hour commutes between Glasgow and Edinburgh will see a significant price cut of almost half, from £28.90 to £14.90. Swinney made the announcement on Thursday during a visit to a Fife Expo at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, as part of the Levenmouth rail link opening celebrations.
According to Swinney, “We know new rail investment can create real education, business, and tourism opportunities and help breathe life into communities. This is currently most apparent with the soon-to-open £116m Levenmouth rail link. Bold initiatives such as our ScotRail peak fares removal pilot help build on this investment by encouraging more people to switch from the car and opt to use the train.”
Extending the pilot for a further three months will allow for a better understanding of its impacts in terms of encouraging people to choose rail. It will also help tackle inequalities by making commuting, day trips, and access to leisure activities even more affordable for all.
Joanne Maguire, managing director of ScotRail, expressed her delight at the extension of the pilot. The Scottish Greens are calling for the scheme to be made permanent. Mark Ruskell MSP, the party’s climate and transport spokesperson, stated, “The Scottish Greens fought tooth and nail to persuade the government and Transport Scotland to scrap peak rail fares, and their response was to first pilot the changes, which has now proven popular with passengers and unions alike.”
He added, “Given they are now embedded in people’s daily routine, and are helping to tackle both the cost of living and climate crises, it would be a spectacular own goal if Mr Swinney and the SNP were to bring back what is in effect a commuter tax. The change must become permanent.”
