Transport Scotland has announced that it has published analysis into its pilot to remove ScotRail Peak Fares.
The year-long pilot saw the Scottish Government subsidising the removal of the fares, as part of a drive to encourage people to stop using their cars by making rail travel more affordable. At a cost of around £40 million, the new analysis has delved into the success of the pilot through patronage data.
According to the analysis, there was a limited increase in the number of passengers using the rail network during the pilot period, however this was not shown to be enough to prove that there had been a ‘modal shift’ away from car travel to rail. With this in mind, the pilot will cease on the 27th September this year.
This decision comes as the Scottish Government face financial challenges with the subsidy of the fare removal, especially when compared to other government targets such as tackling climate change and child poverty across the nation.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, said:
“The pilot primarily benefitted existing train passengers and those with medium to higher incomes. Although passenger levels increased to a maximum of around 6.8%, it would require a 10% increase in passenger numbers for the policy to be self-financing.
“The pilot will have been welcome in saving many passengers hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds during the cost of living crisis but this level of subsidy cannot continue in the current financial climate on that measure alone.
“I am aware, however, that a significant minority of people who cannot choose when they travel to and from work did and would benefit from lower priced rail travel – these are people who might find the return to peak fares challenging.”
Despite ending the pilot, Hyslop did confirm that there would be a year-long discount on ScotRail season tickets, as well as the permanent amendment to the terms of flexipasses that would offer further discounts. This is being done to support those who may struggle continuing to travel on the rail network once the return to peak fares is introduced.
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