End of peak rail fares a big step for workers, students and commuters
The end of peak rail fares on ScotRail services is a big step forward for people and planet, says Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell. With weekend fares already off peak, today is the last day that commuters will have to fork out for unfair peak prices.
The policy was first introduced as a pilot project, which was secured by the Scottish Greens in 2023 while they were in Government, but it was soon dropped by the SNP in 2024 despite opposition from the Greens, rail users and trade unions.
In the year between the pilot project ending and the Scottish Government permanently introducing the Green policy, commuters across Scotland have had to pay eye-watering prices to travel at peak hours.
Green MSP Mark Ruskell said:
“Peak rail fares are a punishing and unfair tax on people who rarely have any say on when they travel. I am delighted that we are finally rid of them and that today is the last time that people will be hit with them.
“It has taken a lot of work from Greens, trade unions and regular rail users to get to this point. We need to build on it with a focus on more and better connections and the best possible services across our country if we are to encourage people out of their cars and onto rail.
“If we are to build a rail network for the 21st century we need to ensure that it is available, accessible and affordable for all, and this is a big move towards doing that. There are people I know who will save hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds a year and people who I hope will look at rail again.
“The price of public transport has been steadily rising for years and years, and it is critical that we address it. The end of peak rail fares is an important step on that journey.”