Travelling backwards? ScotRail fares to increase by 3.8% four months after returning to peak-time prices
They come into effect from 1st April, 2025
Last updated 31st Jan 2025
It’s a blow rail commuters don’t need but train fares are on the up.
Following a trial move last year, when the rail operator offered off-peak fares all day, it’s now adding nearly 4% to ticket prices.
The move is in a bid to make budgets add up and to ensure a sustainable service for customers.
No April Fool
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop said: “From 1 April 2025, all ScotRail fares will increase by 3.8%.
“We know that any increase is unwelcome for passengers, therefore we have kept the rise as low as possible to maintain the attractiveness and affordability of rail as a travel option.”
Not all doom and gloom
The current 20% discount will remain for season tickets as planned until September 2025.
Scotrail also intends to continue fares initiatives which they say will help attract more passengers.
Flexipass will continue to offer 12 single (or 6 return) journeys which has recently been expanded to include more stations including: Exhibition Centre, Anderston, Motherwell, High Street, Charing Cross, Perth, Stirling, and Bathgate.
The increase was agreed by Ministers after considering the future sustainability rail and ensuring that budgets align with the overall funding available.
Ms Hyslop continued: “We continue to look at ways to encourage greater rail use and that is why we are continuing our 20 per cent discounts on season tickets until September 2025 as planned and expanding the availability of flexipass.”
But the Scottish Greens have retaliated saying they believe travel must be accessible and affordable for all.
When in government the Scottish Greens secured a landmark scheme to remove peak rail fares for 12 months, with the SNP reintroducing them last year.
Affordable for all?
The party has joined trade unions in calling for cheaper public transport through ending peak rail fares and introducing a £2 bus fare cap, to ensure that cleaner, greener travel is more available, affordable and accessible for all.
Greens' spokesperson for transport, Mark Ruskell MSP, said: “These hikes will cause misery for commuters. If we want rail to be the first and best option for regular journeys then it has to be affordable and accessible for all.
When the Scottish Greens were in government we secured the removal of peak rail fares, only for the SNP to bring them back as soon as we were out of the room.
“With household budgets being stretched to their limits, workers and regular commuters across our country are looking to find the cheapest ways to travel. These hikes will only deter people from using trains.
“If we want safer and cleaner communities and less cars on our roads then we need to cut the cost of public transport. That is how we will encourage more commuters to leave their cars at home and hop on the train or bus, while benefiting people and planet.
Mr Ruskell added: “It was right to take ScotRail into public ownership, but we have a long way to go in building a modern and affordable rail network.
“It shouldn’t have to cost a fortune to get to work, to hospital appointments or even to explore Scotland. We must end peak rail fares and stop financially penalising those who have no say on when they have to travel.”
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