Peak rail fares to be scrapped by Scottish government

Peak rail fares across Scotland will be scrapped from September, the first minister has announced.

John Swinney said the move would encourage more people to travel by railway, and put "more money in people's pockets".

A pilot scheme scrapping peak-time ScotRail fares was introduced in 2023 but ended in September following "limited success".

The Scottish Greens welcomed the government's U-turn on the policy and called on the first minister to do more to make public transport cheaper.

In his programme for government speech, Swinney told MSPs: "Last year, in the face of severe budget pressures, we took the difficult decision to end the peak fares pilot on our railways.

"But now, given the work we have done to get Scotland's finances in a stronger position, and hearing also the calls from commuters, from climate activists and from the business community, I can confirm that, from 1 September this year, peak rail fares in Scotland will be scrapped for good.

"A decision that will put more money in people's pockets and mean less CO2 is pumped into our skies."

Peak fares cover tickets bought before 09:15 on weekdays and certain services between 16:42 and 18:30.

In October 2023, ScotRail launched a pilot scheme which scrapped peak rail fares to encourage people to use the railway rather than their cars, but it ended in September 2024 following "limited success".

Transport Scotland said the scheme, which saw ticket prices subsidised by the Scottish government and standardised across the day, "did not achieve its aims" of persuading more people to swap car journeys for rail travel.

Passenger levels increased by a maximum of about 6.8% but the scheme required a 10% rise to be self-financing.

Currently, an anytime day return between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverly costs £32.60, while an off-peak ticket costs £16.60.

Swinney also announced that an alcohol ban on trains would be scrapped. He described the rules, which were introduced during the pandemic as "counterproductive and ineffective".

He said the ban would be replaced with "new regulations that focus restrictions more effectively on particular times and locations".

Concessionary travel passes used by those who take part in anti-social behaviour on public transport could be suspended, under new plans.

The first minister said work is being undertaken to develop a "behaviour code" which if broken could lead to the suspension or permanent ban of bus passes.

It comes after a Scottish government report found operators have reported a rise in incidents of anti-social behaviour on the bus network since the introduction of free bus passes for under 22s.

Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater said: "Earlier this year, they said they wouldn't do it. They even voted against Green calls to do it. We've finally got there," she said.

The train drivers' union Aslef called it a "landmark decision", which would boost "the appeal of rail travel over using a car."

Aslef Scotland organiser Kevin Lindsay said: "Ending peak-time fares removes a tax on people commuting to work, making rail travel genuinely affordable for many more people across Scotland."

The Scottish Trade Unions Congress (STUC) also welcomed the move, calling it a victory for workers".

The rail union, RMT said it was the "right decision" and a clear victory for rail workers and passengers, while the TSSA said the move was "long overdue".

STUC deputy general secretary Dave Moxham said: "Peak fares were, simply put, a tax on workers that hit commuters directly in the pocket.

"We can now ensure we build an interconnected, cheaper and greener rail network that puts people before profit and puts peak fares out of commission for good.

A spokesperson for Transform Scotland, the national alliance for sustainable transport, said it was "perverse for rail passengers to be penalised" with peak fares, a charge that was not faced by drivers.