Commuters in Edinburgh are preparing for the return of super peak fares following ScotRail’s latest update.
The Scottish Government has announced that it will reinstate peak fares following a pilot scheme to reduce rail costs. Currently, a return ticket from Edinburgh to Glasgow costs £12. From September 27, the price will rise to £30.
After enjoying the cheaper travel prices and daily savings, commuters will find this price a hefty price to pay – especially knowing they can fly to Spain for less.
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While commuters will have to shell out an extra £18 for a trip between Edinburgh and Glasgow during rush hour, those hoping for a cheap getaway could fly from Edinburgh to Santander for £26.58 one way.
Ryanair is offering a cheap flight to the Spanish city on October 2. You can stay for a week and fly back the following Wednesday (October 9) for just £17. In total, that’s just £14 more than a return ticket to Glasgow – and we know where we’d rather be!
Of course, this doesn’t include luggage, but savvy travellers have revealed the best tricks for packing as many items as possible in your hand luggage to keep costs down. Ryanair also advises its customers to roll up their clothes to make more space in their backpacks.
On Tuesday, it was announced that ScotRail would be scrapping subsidised fares. The Scottish Government said analysis had shown “a limited increase in passenger numbers” and that no “significant shift” from cars to rail was expected. It said it would consider “future subsidisation”.
Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop said it had mainly benefited middle-income people and had increased passenger numbers to a maximum of around 6.8 per cent, but to be self-financing, a 10 per cent increase was needed.
Fiona Hyslop, Secretary of State for Transport, said: “The pilot scheme would primarily benefit existing rail passengers and those on middle to higher incomes. Although passenger numbers would increase by a maximum of around 6.8 per cent, a 10 per cent increase in passenger numbers would be required for the scheme to be self-financing.”
“The pilot scheme saved many passengers hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds during the cost of living crisis but, given the current financial situation, the subsidies cannot be continued at this level for this reason alone.
“However, I recognise that a significant minority of people who do not have a choice of their journey to work have benefited from cheaper rail journeys and would continue to do so – for these people, a return to peak fares could be challenging.
“I can therefore announce the introduction of a 12-month discount on all ScotRail season tickets, as well as a permanent change to the terms of Flexipasses, which will allow 12 single journeys for the price of 10, redeemable within 60 days – a 20 per cent discount for those who travel less frequently.
“In addition, super off-peak tickets will be reintroduced.
“The Scottish Government would be willing to consider future subsidies to eliminate peak tariffs should the UK budget allocation to the Scottish Government improve in the coming years.”
