Fife rail commuters ‘spend 13% of salaries on fares’

Commuters on average salaries are spending up to one-fifth of their pay packets on rail travel in what Labour has dubbed the “great train robbery”.

Workers travelling from the Fife hub of Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh are forking out £256.60 a month for the 31-mile journey, which is 13% of average wages.

Scottish Labour analysis reveals the commute between Ghent and Brussels in Belgium covers the same mileage – but the monthly season ticket there costs just £143.75, which is 5% of typical local earnings.

The figures have triggered a fresh call from the party for the rail system to be brought into public ownership.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth said: “SNP ministers are presiding over a great train robbery – passengers are having their pockets picked in comparison to commuters on the Continent.”

The party’s rural economy and connectivity spokesman added: “Passengers are paying a fortune, often for delayed and overcrowded trains, and when their train isn’t cancelled they can’t be even be guaranteed to stop at the stations they are supposed to.

“This strengthens Labour’s case to bring the railways back into public ownership.”

Those earning modest salaries of just under £2,000 gross a month can expect to lose 20% of that if they have to travel between Glasgow and the capital, where a monthly season ticket is £379.80.

Three-quarters of the revenue ScotRail receives comes from fares set by the Scottish Government, the operator said.

Labour wants the railways to be renationalised.