Train drivers’ union calls on government to ‘think again’ on peak rail fares

The Aslef union described the government’s decision to end a nearly year-long trial scrapping peak time fares as “a tax on workers”.

The change has seen the price of an anytime return ticket between Glasgow and Edinburgh rise from £16.20 to £31.40.

The union added that it was a “short-sighted” decision that would damage local economies and make it harder to meet climate targets, and called on the government to reverse it in the next budget.

Aslef Scottish organiser Kevin Lindsay said: “The flawed decision by First Minister John Swinney and transport minister Fiona Hyslop to restore peak fares will fleece passengers and is a huge mistake that must be rectified in the next Scottish budget.

“Peak fares are no more than a tax on workers and removing them was a step in the right direction to make rail fares more affordable. It put more money in the pockets of rail passengers.

“In Fiona Hyslop’s own constituency, the impact will be severe.

“If a worker now has to get an on-peak return fare from Linlithgow to Glasgow five days a week for four weeks in a month, they will be £166 per month worse off.

“That is a shocking indictment of the decision she has made and the level of these rises in fares will impact local economies all across Scotland as people see their disposable income reduced.”

Mr Lindsay added that the decision would only force more people off the railways and “back into their cars”.

“Rail travel must be made accessible, attractive and affordable if Scotland is to shift people from road to rail travel and meet its climate targets.

“But this short-sighted decision flies in the face of our ambition to develop world-class rail services and will undermine rail travel by pushing people back into their cars.

“The Scottish Government did not give people enough time to make the shift from road to rail. Removing peak fares was shown to work and will work even better if given the time to do so.

“The Scottish Government must think again. In the next Scottish Budget, they have a chance to change their mind, rectify this disastrous decision and remove peak fares on behalf of passengers, the wider economy and the environment.”

Scottish Greens transport spokesperson Mark Ruskell said: “A lot of commuters will have an unpleasant surprise when they pay for their tickets this morning and see that prices are higher than ever.

“Peak rail fares are fundamentally unfair. They disproportionately impact people who have no say over when they need to travel for work or study.

“Bringing them back will do nothing to help workers or students or to encourage people out of their cars.

“Many regular commuters have saved hundreds of pounds on their fares over the last year, and some of the rises they will now face are staggering.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Daniel O’Malley said: “For more than two years, SNP ministers have been responsible for the railways. In that time, they have produced a service that is as erratic as it is expensive.

“This SNP Government are completely out of touch. Even when Parliament voted for the Government to reverse their decision to hike fares, the SNP simply chose to ignore it.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats want a reliable rail service which everyone can afford to travel on. It’s a win-win that would bring down costs and help tackle the climate crisis.”

A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “The peak fares removal pilot was a welcome incentive over the last 12 months, saving many passengers hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds during the cost-of-living crisis.

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

“Ministers understand this will be disappointing for many rail users, particularly for those who cannot choose when they travel to and from work.

“That is why a 12-month discount on all ScotRail season tickets has been introduced, available weekly, monthly and annually.”