Peak rail fares must be scrapped
PEAK rail fares should be permanently scrapped in Scotland, according to the Scottish Greens. In October, while the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and Scottish Greens was still in force, the Scottish Government introduced a pilot scheme scrapping peak rail fares on all ScotRail services.
However, the pilot is due to come to an end in June with peak fares returning if no further action is taken by ministers.
The Scottish Greens are now calling on the minority SNP government led by John Swinney to make the change permanent.
“The removal of peak rail fares, and the shift to off-peak fares all day, has already supported hundreds of thousands of commuters through the cost of living crisis and encouraged people to get out of cars,” said the party’s transport spokesperson Mark Ruskell.
“By making the scheme permanent we can ensure that even more people are able to feel its benefits and change their long-standing habits.
“The best changes are ones that help our climate and our communities while supporting household budgets, which is exactly what happens when we cut the cost of transport.
“Every pound that is saved on a commute is money that can instead go towards heating, eating or any of the other expenses that have piled up for households and families all over Scotland as a result of the Toryinflicted cost of living crisis.
“Peak rail fares are an unfair tax on the many workers and students who do not have any choice about when they start work or go to study, that is why the Scottish Greens agreed with ministers to deliver the pilot scheme.
“During our time in government, the Scottish Greens strongly