Local MSP Colin Smyth has hit out at the rip-off rail fare rise that will hit passengers in Dumfries and Galloway.
Regulated rail fares increase in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI). As a result, a season ticket fare between Dumfries and Glasgow will rise by £125 in January to £4,601. Season ticket fares between Dumfries and Carlisle will increase by £68 while season fares between Dumfries and Annan will increase by £37 taking the total season rail fare to £2,528 and £ 1,377 respectively.
Commuters from Lockerbie Train Station to Glasgow and Edinburgh will also face rip off rail fare rises.
Colin Smyth MSP thinks it is simply unfair that passengers in Dumfries and Galloway are burdened with these rip-off rail fares when passengers are constantly facing delays, cancellations and overcrowding.
Colin Smyth said, “These rail fare rises are unwanted, unwelcome and unnecessary. It is simply unfair that commuters in Dumfries and Galloway are being burdened with these rip-off rail fares for less than satisfactory services.
The cost of rail fares being paid by passengers is simply unacceptable with passengers commuting between Dumfries and Glasgow facing a season ticket rise of £125 and passengers between Lockerbie and Edinburgh facing a rise of £147.
It’s high time working people stopped having to pay such excessive fares to simply line the pockets of private companies. “
| Route | Current Fare | New Fare | Increase |
| Lockerbie – Edinburgh | £ 5,252.00 | £ 5,399.06 | £ 147.06 |
| Lockerbie – Glasgow | £ 3,092.00 | £ 3,178.58 | £ 86.58 |
| Dumfries – Glasgow | £ 4,476.00 | £ 4,601.33 | £ 125.33 |
| Dumfries – Annan | £ 1,340.00 | £ 1,377.52 | £ 37.52 |
| Dumfries – Carlisle | £ 2,460.00 | £ 2,528.88 | £ 68.88 |
