Rail fares rising by 8.7%!

[ScotsTaxQuery]

How can they justify this? They’re up in arms in England because they’re going up by 4.9% - but nearly 9% for Scotland?? That’s shocking. I think this was announced back in December but it passed me by. Do you think they’re trying to counteract the expenditure on giving out free bus travel for 22 years and under?

I presume this is on the standard fare, as at the moment all tickets are off peak?

RTN to Edinburgh was £22, currently £11.90… will go up to £24?

not entirely sure why they bothered with the whole off peak thing to be honest

I think the off peak pilot thing is being extended until June, so I suppose it will be still be cheaper if you are a peak time
traveller (at least until June). Not so great if you are an off peak traveller.
The free bus travel for young people must be great for those living in cities but the bus service is rubbish where we are! It would take hours to get anywhere!

Railways are very expensive to run. Scotrail is already heavily subidised. It wouldn't surprise me if their operating costs haven't increased by even more than that.

I think a peak return Glasgow to Edinburgh is more like £28 isn't it? I had hoped they would scrap peak fares altogether but I guess not.

Wish they'd use some of their money to put on bigger trains in the NE. Two piddling carriages all the way from Inverness to Aberdeen on a Saturday morning when there was rugby on.
Visiting iLs in Kilmarnock - 5 carriages with hardly anyone in them and per mile, SO much cheaper.

Wish the train drivers would get back to working Sundays or they find drivers happy to work Sundays especially if they are making it more expensive

Delighted to report it's £32 😭