A package of £3 million for discounted travel has been allocated in this week’s Scottish Government budget – welcome news for Scotland’s rail passengers.
Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands, today confirmed £3 million for fare offers to thank passengers for their patience during the investment and improvement of rail services.
The Minister also announced that monthly and annual season ticket holders will benefit from a free week of travel on our railways.
Alongside this, ScotRail will develop a set of fare offers for weekly season ticket holders, daily commuters and leisure travellers to ensure even more passengers can benefit.
The addition of a free week – at no cost to season ticket holders – is broadly equivalent to the value of a freeze in fares for regular passengers.
Mr Yousaf said:
“We recognise any level of delay or disruption on the rail network in Scotland affects peoples’ lives. This year has been particularly challenging as we take forward our record breaking investment programme on the live network to deliver newer, longer, greener trains on our flagship routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow as well as further afield.
“While we continue to monitor ScotRail’s delivery of their Performance Improvement Plan, we are confident they can and will deliver the service we expect. Passengers rightly deserve an efficient and value for money rail network.
“That is why we have considered a number of options for rewarding passengers for their custom. During 2017, we will fund an initiative that gives one week’s travel free to monthly and annual ScotRail Season ticket holders
“By offering a ‘free week’ we can in many instances match or even provide better savings for passengers than if we offered a fares freeze.
“And as service improvements and investment also impact on those across the country who do not use season tickets, we will put in place a number of promotions and fare offers throughout the year to ensure they also benefit from this investment.”
The work to finalise the detail of these measures will be completed over the coming months and announced in the new year. ScotRail will set a specific period in 2017 during which the free week will be available.
ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Phil Verster said:
“We are undergoing the biggest upgrade of the rail network since Victorian times. Right across Scotland we are carrying out the necessary work that will allow us to deliver more seats, more services and shorter, hassle free journeys every single day. We always keep people moving during these periods of work and our customers have been incredibly patient during the big projects like Winchburgh Tunnel last year and Queen Street Tunnel earlier this year. The free week of travel for our season ticket holders is a ‘thank you for your patience’ while we work to deliver a rail network that all of Scotland can be proud of.”
