SCC Comment on the end of the ScotRail Peak fare removal pilot
Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:
“The return of peak time fares will be a huge disappointment to businesses and commuters.
“Hundreds of pounds will now be added back onto travel costs for the workforce, during a cost-of-living crisis. For example, the cost of a daily journey between Glasgow and Edinburgh will now almost double.
“This impact will not only be felt in wallets, but on offices and high streets across Scotland.
“Cheaper commuter rail tickets support staff coming into the office, improve face-to-face collaboration, mental health and boost the local economies of towns and cities.
“The peak time fares policy has resulted in an increase in rail passengers. This increase has likely been limited due to emergency timetables and unreliability issues pushing other commuters away at the same time.
“Incentivising people to make the modal shift from road to rail travel takes years of investment to make rail travel affordable and attractive.
“Ending the policy, after just a year, is a move in the wrong direction.”
ENDS
