The reintroduction of peak rail fares will cost workers and families in Paisley a fortune, says Ross Greer, the Green MSP who secured their removal last year.
The Scottish Government ended the one year long pilot scheme last Friday that removed peak rail fares that saved regular commuters hundreds of pounds. The scheme was secured by local Green MSP Ross Greer during the Scottish Greens’ time in government.
For workers travelling from Paisley Gilmour Street to Glasgow at peak times, fares will increase from £4.90 to £7.20, a hike of 47%.
And peak time trains on Scotland’s busiest line – Edinburgh and Glasgow, there will be a jump from £16.20 to £31.40 for a return, a 94% hike.
The Scottish Govt said that the subsidy for the pilot scheme was unaffordable in the current financial climate. The pilot scheme only increased rail usage by 6.8%, and passenger numbers needed to grow by at least 10% to make it self-financing.
Ross Greer, Scottish Greens MSP for the West of Scotland said: “The return of peak rail fares will cost workers and families in Paisley a fortune at a time when a lot of people are really struggling.
“Ending peak fares was long campaigned for by rail unions, so I was proud when the Scottish Greens delivered it last year. I know many local commuters will be angry to see the SNP bring them back like this, especially when other savings options were available.
“For example, a quarter of a billion pounds is spent every year on a tax break scheme for businesses, despite the government’s own review finding no evidence that it was working. That is more than five times what was required to remove peak fares for another year.
“Some people in Paisley will have saved hundreds of pounds thanks to the Greens since last October. Those reduced fares encouraged many to leave their cars at home, helping tackle the climate crisis and local air pollution.
“Transport is the biggest source of carbon emissions in Scotland. There is no way for us to tackle the climate emergency without improving public transport and reducing the numbers of cars on our roads. Bringing back peak fares will only take us backwards.
”Changing the way we travel doesn’t happen overnight and by permanently making rail travel cheaper, we could have encouraged more people onto the trains.
“The Scottish Greens removed peak fares to help families with the cost of living, reduce emissions and improve air quality. I urge the Scottish Government to reconsider this decision and to make cheaper fares a permanent feature of our rail network.
Renfrewshire has ten train stations and three rail routes.
Headline image: Library photo of Johnstone Train Station