ScotRail abolishes peak rail fares in attempt to encourage more people to use trains

Scotland’s national train company, ScotRail has scrapped peak rail fares. It means passengers will no longer have to pay more for travelling during rush hours on weekdays. The initiative will come into effect from Monday 1 September onwards.

Until now, the rail provider charged different fares for travel at different times of the day. The change is expected to considerably increase savings for passengers. 

These peak fares generally applied to tickets bought before 9:15am and for some services between 4:42pm and 6:30pm. 

The move comes as part of the Scottish Government’s attempts to achieve net zero by making it easier for more people to choose rail travel, which is more sustainable, as their main mode of transportation. 

“We want more people to choose to travel by public transport for work, study and leisure but we know that many are still struggling with cost-of-living pressures,” Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, said in a press release. 

“By removing peak fares, we are making ticketing more simple and more straightforward while at the same time supporting a shift towards sustainable public transport, protecting the climate, and saving people money.”

How much cheaper will routes get?

The change could mean considerable savings for some passengers travelling between major Scottish cities at the busiest times. 

Passengers travelling from Edinburgh to Glasgow, for example, will see savings of 48 per cent on a return fare, whereas fares from Inverkeithing to Edinburgh are expected to drop 41 per cent. 

Perth to Dundee travellers can save 31 per cent on tickets, while Glasgow to Stirling passengers will save 40 per cent. 

Return ticket prices will decrease by 20 per cent on the Inverurie to Aberdeen line, while falling 34 per cent on the Inverness to Elgin route. 

Ticket prices on routes which do not currently have peak-time prices will stay the same. 

“We are really excited at the opportunity to get more customers out of their cars and onto the railway,” Joanne Maguire, managing director at ScotRail, told BBC Scotland News. 

What does this mean for passengers?

With passengers now being able to pay the same train fare no matter what day or time they travel, ScotRail hopes the move will encourage more people to travel by train. This includes going to work, day trips, night outs, travelling to other cities and much more. 

This is also expected to significantly help people who work on a shift basis and don’t have much control over their work or travel timings. 

“No more checking the clock to see if you’ve missed the morning peak, or if your ticket will be valid for your journey home,” ScotRail said on its website. 

As petrol prices continue to increase in Scotland, along with the rest of the UK, more commuters will also be able to save on both petrol costs and travel time, by taking the train more whenever possible. 

“Peak rail fares have always been a deeply unfair tax on people who have no say over when they need to travel, and I am delighted that we are finally rid of them,” Mark Ruskell, Green Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), said, as reported by BBC News Scotland.