Transport Minister comments on 2017 rail fares

Speaking about rail fares coming into effect on 2 January 2017, Minister for Transport & the Islands, Humza Yousaf said:

“2016 was a challenging year for the rail industry with delays and disruption impacting on commuters’ day to day rail travel. The Scottish Government knew this was simply not good enough, so took steps to ensure Scotrail addressed this by introducing a 249-point Performance Improvement Plan which we are now monitoring closely. We are confident ScotRail can and will deliver the kind of services passengers deserve.

“We want to reward passengers for their continued custom and patience while we deliver our extensive programme of improvements, and so I have announced a £3 million fare initiative in 2017 which will give one week’s free travel to monthly and annual season ticket holders, worth more in cash terms than a fares freeze. Edinburgh to Glasgow monthly season ticket holders, for example, will save £95.50 as a result of the free week initiative compared with £82.80 had fares been frozen. ScotRail are also currently developing a set of fare promotions throughout the year for weekly season ticket holders as well as less frequent rail travellers to ensure more customers benefit from our investment in Scotland’s railways.
 
“We have invested twice as much per head in the rail network in Scotland than the UK Government – some £7 billion in rail since 2007 – but I want to do more to make rail a more accessible, attractive, and reliable transport option. That’s why we are investing a further £5 billion to 2019 in a package of rail improvements that will deliver longer, greener trains on our flagship routes, new stations, new track upgrades, more seats, and more services -  that will truly transform Scotland’s railways.”

Notes to Editors

Scottish Ministers ensure that fares are kept below certain thresholds by regulating the maximum permitted annual increase for selected fares, including Anytime and Season tickets, to the level of the Retail Price Index (RPI) for regulated Peak fares and one per cent below RPI for regulated Off-Peak fares.

£3m Fares Intiative - The table below illustrates examples of savings to passengers based on 12 seasons bought.