Petition calls on ScotRail to keep "Kids Go Free" scheme

A petition has been launched calling on ScotRail to reverse its decision to scrap the a "Kids Go Free" scheme.

Bosses confirmed on Monday that the promotion, which allows two children to travel for free with an adult, will be ended as part of rail fare rises in January.

It will be replaced with a "Kids For A Quid" scheme. Up to four children can travel with a paying adult for just £1.

But Scottish Labour is hitting out at the move saying an adult who travels once a week with two children will be more than £100 worse off after the scheme is cancelled

Scottish Labour’s Transport Spokesperson, Colin Smyth MSP, said: “The Kids Go Free scheme is a fantastic initiative which encourages families to use public transport and not be out of pocket for doing so.

"With a rip-off fare rise on the way in January coupled with charging children over the age of five, there is a real chance that many people could be priced out of using our railways by their continued privatisation.

“That is why Labour has launched a petition calling on bosses at ScotRail to save the scheme and keep our railways accessible to families across Scotland.

“The performance of our railways has plummeted and now passengers are being forced to pay even more to fund this failing franchise.

“It’s high time our railways were brought into public ownership so we have a transport system that works for the many, not the few."

But ScotRail is defending the decision and says it will allow even more children to travel cheaply.

It will also now allow season ticket and flexipass holders to access cheap travel for up to four kids without the need to repurchase an off-peak ticket themselves.

Under the new scheme, customers will also be able to get a free child admission with a full paying adult to a number of attractions, including:

• Aberdeen Science Centre

• Abbotsford House, Tweedbank

• Discovery Point, Dundee

• Dundee Science Centre

• Edinburgh Zoo

• Scotch Whisky Experience, Edinburgh Waverley

• The Edinburgh Dungeon

• Scottish Football Museum

• Highland Wildlife Park, Kingussie

• Deep Sea World, North Queensferry

• National Wallace Monument, Stirlin

A ScotRail spokesperson said: “We are committed to providing our customers with the opportunity to travel across our services and the Kids for a Quid offer is available on a wider range of adult tickets.

“This provides families with the opportunity to travel throughout the country, and take advantage of free entry to the many attractions that we have been able to secure."