Fare offer hardly benefits those affected

Sir,– I see that ScotRail is to offer cheaper fares to frustrated Fife rail users (The Courier, March 24.) I believe that Fifers might be getting cheap travel to Edinburgh or Dundee at a cost of £5 return for the next few months. This is supposed to make up for the late or cancelled commuter trains.

Sadly, those affected by the commuter chaos are unlikely to benefit from the £5 deal as it will apply only at the off-peak periods.

As a former rail user I can certainly say a gimmick like this does not impress me one little bit.

People who are working and using the trains really want to see trains that run on time, stop at the stations advertised and preferably are not cancelled unless there are extreme circumstances such as a breakdown or an accident or death on the line.

When I get a train to work, I want to know that I am going to get to my work on time and that I am not going to get into trouble with my employer or, even worse, be sacked for constant late-coming, which is not even my own fault.

The authorities, particularly in Edinburgh, are trying to discourage car use.

However, the way ScotRail runs services would put anyone off using public transport.

If ScotRail really wants to make up for the commuter chaos then why not cut the prices of the season tickets or peak-time fares?

That might actually help those who are affected by the stopskipping, lateness and cancellations.

Ideally, all I want when I do use a train is for it to arrive at the scheduled time, stop at the correct destinations and for it to be clean and not over-crowded.

If ScotRail can get that right then they might be on to a winner. Alastair Macintyre. 18 Webster Place, Rosyth.

As ScotRail offers discount off-peak fares to frustrated Fife commuters, a correspondent asks whether discounting season tickets and peak-time fares would not be a more effective gesture.