Greens call for end to first class rail
Ministers have been urged to back Scottish Green calls for an end to first class rail on ScotRail services. The call will be made as part of a Scottish Government debate on Twenty Years of Scotland's Railway Providing a Strong Platform for the Future.
The Scottish Greens transport spokesperson, Mark Ruskell, has put in an amendment calling for the further expansion of new rail stations and removal of First Class ticketing on commuter services.
A recent investigation by Scottish Green researchers discovered that in 2023/24 only 2% of first class seats allocated were being used, meaning the vast majority sat empty - while those in standard class were routinely left to stand.
The party’s transport spokesperson, Mark Ruskell said:
“Our railways are for all of us, but we’ve all had the experience of having to stand in a packed carriage when the first class one is completely empty.
“Anyone who has got on a busy commuter train from Glasgow to Edinburgh during the festivals in August knows how uncomfortable this can be, especially in the heat which can lead to people becoming unwell.
“If 98% of first class seats are not even being used then what is the point in them?
“It makes no sense to divide up our trains that way, especially when we are scrapping peak fares and trying to get more people on to them.
“Every journey should be a first class experience regardless of how much we are paying for it. Rail should be about the need to travel rather than the ability to pay for what are often very expensive tickets.
“If we are to build a people’s railway for the 21st century then it should be welcoming, inclusive and accessible to all.
“I hope all parties will get behind my call. First class rail is a dated idea. It is at odds with a ScotRail that is run for everyone and it means less seats and busier carriages for the rest of us.
“More rail companies are taking steps to reduce first class services. It's time that ScotRail did the same.”