Peak fares scrapped on all ScotRail services

Commuters travelling on ScotRail services will no longer pay peak fares after they were scrapped from Monday.

Travellers will now pay the off-peak price on all services regardless of the time or day of the week.

It is hoped the move, announced by First Minister John Swinney in May, will encourage more people to ditch their cars and travel by rail.

Commuters who currently pay £32.60 for an anytime day return between Glasgow and Edinburgh will now see prices slashed by almost half to the off-peak rate of £16.80.

Here are some of the savings to be made on popular routes across Scotland.

Peak fares were previously ditched by the Scottish Government by then-first minister Humza Yousaf in October 2023 in a bid to make transport more affordable while lowering emissions.

The scheme was extended for a period but was scrapped in September 2024 by the Scottish Government “in light of financial challenges”.

In May 2025, Swinney announced a U-turn on that decision in the SNP’s Programme for Government.

Transport secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Public ownership has created the opportunity to deliver a railway which is run for the benefit of the nation.

“ScotRail is one of the fastest growing operators, with one of the best passenger satisfaction rates and we are building even further on this success by removing peak fares for good.

“We want more people to choose to travel by public transport for work, study and leisure but we know that many are still struggling with cost-of-living pressures.

“By removing peak fares, we are making ticketing more simple and more straightforward while at the same time supporting a shift towards sustainable public transport, protecting the climate, and saving people money.”

Joanne Maguire, ScotRail managing director, said: “This is fantastic news, not only for our existing customers, but for everyone across the country considering rail travel for their commute or leisure journeys.

“Travelling by train remains one of the most convenient ways to get around, and with simpler, more affordable fares, we hope to see many more people choose ScotRail.”