ScotRail peak fares correspondence: FOI release

Information requested

1. Could you supply all correspondence sent and received about peak fares returning, as well as minutes/or notes from meetings held about this, between September 1 2024 and December 1 2024?

2. In terms of the peak fares removal could you provide how well the scheme performed against its intended outcomes?

2a. The idea was that increased ticket sales would fully offset the loss of peak fare income, could you provide the analysis for this?

3. Could you supply the impact assessment done on the effects on axing the peak fares pilot?

Response

For point 1 of your request

Whilst our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the costs of locating, retrieving and providing the information you have requested would exceed the upper cost limit of £600.

Under section 12 of FOISA, public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying would exceed the upper cost limit, which is currently set at £600 by Regulations made under section 12.

You may wish to reduce the scope of your request to make it more manageable to allow us to comply with your request without breaching the cost of compliance limit.

You could consider making your request more specific or reduce time frames for your request in order 

If you would like to reduce the scope of your request, you may find it helpful to look at the Scottish Information Commissioner’s ‘Tips for requesting information under FOI and the EIRs’ on his website at: http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/YourRights/Tipsforrequesters.aspx.

For points 2, 2a and 3 of your request

The final evaluation report including the detailed analysis underpinning this decision and cost evaluation was published on Transport Scotland’s website on 20 August. Please see a link to the report: ScotRail Peak Fares Removal Pilot - Final Evaluation Report - August 2024 | Transport Scotland

Please note that the Pilot’s aim was to assess if removing peak fares from ScotRail services would lead to a sustained and significant modal shift from car to rail during peak times. The above evaluation of the pilot shows that whilst there was a limited increase in passenger numbers, it did not lead to a sustained and significant modal shift from car to rail. It was not the aim of the Pilot to be self-funding.

The above evaluation report contains answers to the questions posed in your request.

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.