Victims of great train robbery
Commuters left rail- y skint
Fed- up commuters have been left counting the cost as new figures have revealed the price of train tickets.
Those travelling from either Ayr or New Cumnock to Glasgow can expect to pay £ 235.40 for a monthly ticket.
This works out at 12 per cent of the average Scottish earning per month, £ 1929.17.
A daily commute from Kilmarnock to Glasgow will set you back £ 162.50 per month - eight per cent of the average income.
In comparison, a worker commuting from Étampes to Paris would spend just two per cent of the average monthly pay in France on rail tickets.
The general view from the public is that the prices are too high.
Gary Ferguson, 40, of Ayr said: “It’s terrible what they are charging.
“If you go to the continent and travel around countries like Spain, France or Holland you are shocked by how cheap they are compared to here.
“Another point is these countries have immaculate stations, unlike here.
“Imagine being a visitor and seeing the state of some of our stations.”
And Sandy Wilson, 69, of Ayr added: “It is awful people are paying that much.
“I don’t get the train much myself, but I know people who depend on it as they don’t have a car.
“I feel sorry for these people as they are paying far too much.”
Mike Wilson, 61, of Prestwick doesn’t use trains often.
The former Ayrshire Post Sports Editor said: “I am an X77 man.
“I get free travel wherever I want to go which is ideal.
“There is no need to pay for a service when there is a free alternative.”
Catherine McCaig, 69, of Ayr managed to grab a ticket for her family to get to England for just £ 69.
She said: “It’s crazy that we have to pay so much for the train.
“My daughter is disabled but I still have to pay £ 13 for us to get to Glasgow and back.
“I hear of people saying they get the train for £ 7 - but I always get told I don’t get discount. “It’s extortionate.” Jeane Freeman MSP said: “The Scottish Government wants to see more people take the train and recognises that prices have to be affordable and fair, that’s why the government has ensured that fares are kept below certain thresholds by regulating the maximum permitted annual increase for selected fares to no more than the rate of inflation or less.
“I have also been calling for Scotrail to improve the frequency of services on the New Cumnock to Glasgow line so that passengers have the best available level of service for their fares.”
The government has ensured that fares are kept below certain thresholds