ScotRail peak train fares have been permanently scrapped and the booze ban on trains has been relaxed by the Scottish Government.
First Minister John Swinney announced the change as he outlined the SNP’s Programme for Government on Tuesday afternoon.
Peak rail fares in Scotland returned in September after the Scottish Government confirmed it was ending its pilot scheme.
The end of the pilot scheme meant that a peak return ticket from Glasgow to Edinburgh nearly doubled to around £31.40 while a train from Glasgow to Dundee rose in cost to £47.80.
The Scottish Government said the peak fare pilot was scrapped “in light of financial challenges”.
It has now U-turned in its plans for the year ahead.
“Last year, in the face of severe budget pressures, we took the difficult decision to end the peak fares pilot on our railways,” Swinney said.
“But now, given the work we have done to get Scotland’s finances in a stronger position, and hearing also the calls from commuters, from climate activists and from the business community, I can confirm that, from 1st September this year, peak rail fares in Scotland will be scrapped for good.”
Scottish Labour had promised to permanently scrap peak fares for travellers if it were to win next year’s Holyrood election.
End to Scotrail blanket booze ban
Swinney also announced a relaxation to the ban against alcohol on ScotRail trains.
The carrying and consumption of booze has been prohibited on trains and in stations since November 2020.
The prohibition was first introduced as a temporary measure during the Covid pandemic but has been in effect ever since.
It has previously been criticised by the Scottish Conservatives as “out of touch” and “unworkable”, and according to a ScotRail survey public opinion is divided 50/50.
Independent MSP John Mason previously claimed the ban was “clearly not being enforced” and called for the Scottish Government to scrap the restrictions.
“ScotRail does not like it and its staff refuse to do anything with it,” he said.
“British Transport Police does not agree with the ban either and says that it cannot be enforced. Surely we either have to remove the ban or do something to make it enforceable.”
The decision to lift or retain the ban is a policy decision that lies with the Scottish Government.
As part of Swinney’s 12-month government programme, the general prohibition has been scrapped and replaced with time and location restrictions.
Ten Key Points from SNP’s Programme for Government
-
ScotRail peak rail fares ditched for good - ScotRail booze ban “removed and replaced” with time and location restrictions
- An extra 100,000 GP appointments promised for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, obesity and smoking conditions
- Winter fuel payments for pensioners restored
- Anti-misogyny and anti-conversion practice bills scrapped from current SNP agenda
- Commitment to keep council tax, water bills “substantially lower” than England and Wales
- Prescriptions, eye appointments, bus travel for young, disabled and older people, and university tuition to remain free
- Free school meals to be expanded
- More rights and stronger protections for tenants
- Removing barriers on stalled building sites with the potential to deliver up to 20,000 new homes
‘Programme fails to meet Scottish challenges and ambitions’
Swinney’s latest Programme for Government faced criticism from opposition parties on Tuesday.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accused the programme of “failing to meet the challenges and ambitions” of the people in Scotland.
“Is that it? After 18 years in power, and what could be John Swinney’s last year in government, is that the best he can do? It’s embarrassing,” Sarwar said.
“Don’t get me wrong, there are some things in here I agree with – especially the bits Swinney nicked from Scottish Labour – but this statement fails to meet challenges and ambitions of the people in Scotland.”
Sarwar said the SNP Government was “running down the clock” until the next election, and said if Swinney “had a good idea, he would have delivered it by now”.
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay was also critical of the programme, and he said it did “little to restore political trust” in the SNP Government.
“Today’s flimsy Programme for Government is just more of the same from the SNP and it will do little to restore political trust,” Findlay said.
“No wonder that so many of their MSPs couldn’t be bothered to turn up to hear it.”
Alba party MSP Ash Regan has also hit out at the SNP Government for keeping independence off the agenda.
“The failure to put independence front and centre of today’s Programme for Government is a wasted opportunity,” she said.
And while Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater was “delighted” that Swinney “finally committed to the Green’s policy of ending peak rail fares for good”, she urged him to go even further to make all public transport cheaper.
Outside of politics, the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has called Swinney’s decision to scrap peak rail fares “deeply welcome” but “long overdue” news.
However, STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said Swinney’s overall programme was “bold on rhetoric but light on details and on cash”.
“If we’re seeking to build an economy that serves working people – one that eradicates child poverty and uplifts standards in our public services – governments across these isles can’t keep passing the buck on how they’ll fund it,” Foyer said.
“There was nothing within this prospectus that demonstrated the urgent steps needed to reform income and council tax whilst seeking to introduce a bespoke wealth tax here in Scotland.”
Foyer said these powers were “within the grasp of the First Minister”, but said the Scottish Government “still refuses to do what is necessary”.
“This lack of impetus is letting workers down badly,” she added.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
