ScotRail fares to rise by almost 5% in July as cost of living freeze is ‘no longer sustainable’
Ticket prices on the publicly owned railway operator ScotRail will increase by almost 5 per cent next month, despite warnings it will hit people struggling with the cost of living crisis.
It is the first time fares have risen since the operator was taken into public ownership in April 2022, with ministers claiming continuing this freeze was “no longer sustainable”.
The decision by the Scottish Government means that from 3 July, fares on ScotRail services will rise by 4.8 per cent, excluding season and flexi tickets.
In an email to staff, the operator’s head of retail Claire Dickie said the price hike would be “disappointing” for some customers but was essential to “reduce the burden on the taxpayer”.
She said the decision to freeze fares for so long – partly in response to the cost of living crisis – had had a “serious impact on ScotRail’s financial sustainability”.
The decision to raise fares was criticised by rail unions, who said it was “reckless” and could set back efforts to tempt passengers back in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
Aslef Scotland organiser Kevin Lindsay said: “To increase ticket prices during a cost of living crisis risks forcing more passengers off of trains rather than getting them on board with rail travel.
“This is being done in the face of all the evidence which shows we need to shift more transport from road to rail in response to the climate emergency.”
The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) union said it was “bad news for anyone hoping to ditch the car this summer”.
Organiser Gary Kelly said: “The SNP like to talk the talk about net-zero targets but they can’t walk the walk. We need a fares freeze for everyone if we want to get serious about greening the economy and a public railway run in the public interest.”
Mhairi McAllan, the new Transport Secretary, said: “The Scottish Government rightly made the decision to freeze fares as part of its response to the cost of living crisis. While this has now remained in place for around 18 months, it is simply no longer sustainable.”
She added that the 4.8 per cent rise was lower than the 5.9 per cent rise in fares in other parts of Britain.
“This below-inflation increase means fares remain, on average, lower than across the rest of Great Britain,” she added.
“We know that any increase is unwelcome for passengers, therefore we have kept the rise as low as possible to maintain the attractiveness and affordability of rail as a travel option.”
