Return of peak rail fares will be a hammer blow for workers and our climate
The announcement that the SNP will be bringing back peak rail fares on September 27th is a hammer blow to commuters and will harm our climate, say the Scottish Greens.
The comments from the party’s Transport spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP, follow a Government Initiated Question, published this morning, which confirmed the end of the year-long scheme to remove them. The scheme was secured in October 2023 by the Scottish Greens in government.
Mr Ruskell said: “This is deeply disappointing. It is a hammer blow to the many workers all over Scotland who have to travel every day but have no say on when they need to be at work.
“Ending peak rail fares is something that the Scottish Greens pushed hard for alongside rail workers unions and anti-poverty campaigners, and I know many will be angry to see the SNP bringing them back like this.
“By reducing fares we were able to support hundreds of thousands of commuters through the cost of living crisis while encouraging them to leave their cars at home. A lot of workers and their families saved hundreds of pounds.
“Behavioural change doesn’t happen overnight and by making the move permanent we could have encouraged more people to change the way they travel.
“This will pile extra costs on to people at a really difficult time. Every pound that’s saved on travel is another pound that can go towards heating, eating or the many other expenses that have piled up for households and families all over Scotland.
“It is also very bad news for our environment. It sends a terrible signal and derails our climate efforts. Transport is the biggest source of carbon emissions in Scotland. There is no way for us to tackle the climate crisis without drastically and urgently reducing the numbers of cars on our roads.
“Cheaper, greener railways are an essential part of boosting public transport and protecting our planet. When we invest in our rail we are investing in people, communities and our environment.
Mr Ruskell added: “When the Scottish Greens secured free bus travel for everyone under 22 there were some who doubted how successful it would be. But it has worked. It has driven up passenger numbers and kept money in people’s pockets. The removal of peak rail fares comes from a similar place and I’m confident that over time it would have a similar impact.”