Great Train Robbery!
SNP ministers accused of ‘picking the pockets of passengers’ with huge fares
‘Commuters are paying a fortune’
SNP ministers were accused of presiding over a ‘Great Train Robbery’ after it was revealed some commuters spend a fifth of their wages on rail fares.
Analysis has found workers in Scotland earning the average gross pay of £1,929 per month have to fork out 20 per cent of this if travelling between Edinburgh and Glasgow on a daily basis.
A monthly season ticket for the 47-mile journey between the two cities costs £380 a month.
Yesterday, critics launched a scathing attack on the Scottish Government, insisting that train tickets in Scotland are far higher than elsewhere in Europe.
In France, a commuter travelling the 30-mile journey from Etampes to Paris would pay only £66 for a monthly pass – just 2 per cent of the country’s average wage.
Scottish Labour rural economy and connectivity spokesman 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.
‘Commuters are paying a fortune, often for delayed and overcrowded trains and, when their train isn’t cancelled, they can’t 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.
‘While SNP ministers are acting as cheerleaders for the privatised rail system, Labour is making the case to nationalise our railways, including ScotRail, at the earliest opportunity and deliver a public transport service that works for the many, not the few.’
Elsewhere, those travelling on the popular route between Edinburgh and Glenrothes with Thornton Station in Fife would typically spend 13 per cent of their wages on a £256.60 season ticket. A monthly ticket between the capital and Dunblane costs £250.
Scotland’s railways and operaDutch-owned tors have come under considerable scrutiny and criticism over the past few years, due to cancellations, delays and overcrowding on trains.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf was forced to put forward an improvement plan in an effort to ensure ScotRail was hitting its targets, and improving services. transport company Abellio, which runs the ScotRail franchise, yesterday said that 85 per cent of the revenue comes from fares set by the Scottish Government.
In Scotland, it is possible for the public sector to bid for the franchise, a move introduced by the SNP. A spokesman for Mr Yousaf said the suitability of existing public sector bodies to bid for such a contract is being considered.
The Scottish Government is also said to be looking at what steps would be necessary to create a new body to do so, if needed.
However, Mr Yousaf has repeatedly said that a public sector bid would only be taken forward once the current contract with Abellio has run its course.
He said: ‘Scotland has the lowest rail fares increase in the UK, with the average regulated increase below the rate of inflation.
‘Our consistent view is that there ought to be a level playing field between the private and public sector in bidding for rail franchises.
‘This will enable us to ensure the delivery of rail services in Scotland that deliver maximum economic and social benefit.’
The new analysis looking at how much Scots are forced to pay on the railways was published by Scottish Labour.
The party said its research included the routes of ScotRail’s top ten busiest trains from March 2017, while the costs are for standard travel monthly season tickets.
A ScotRail spokesman said: ‘We are investing millions of pounds in Scotland’s railway to better connect our communities and support the economy.
‘Money from fares is reinvested to improve services, customer experience and track and signals, as we continue to build the best railway Scotland has ever had.’
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