Scotland fans stung as World Cup train ticket prices quadruple

Scotland fans will have to spend four times the normal price for train tickets to get to World Cup games in Boston.

Steve Clarke’s side made history in qualifying for the finals in North America this summer, with the Scots due to take on Haiti on June 14 and then Morocco on June 19.

It means tens of thousands of Tartan Army members will descend on the Gillette Stadium outside Boston.

The venue is in Foxborough – a town smaller than Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, with a population of less than 19,000.

However, under fare updates announced by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), a round-trip ticket between Boston’s South Station and the stadium will cost $80 (£60) per person.

Special event trains to the stadium for New England Patriots games, New England Revolution matches, and concerts typically cost around $20 (£15) for a round-trip.

Supporters who attended a World Cup friendly between France and Brazil on March 26 at Gillette Stadium paid around $30 (£22.59) for their round-trip rides.

It is expected that 20,000 fans will be transported to the stadium on 14 commuter rail trains for each of Scotland’s games, with the journey taking around an hour.

According to the MBTA’s website, fans will be split into several boarding groups, with those on the earliest service estimated to arrive at the stadium four hours before kick-off.

The final boarding group will arrive an hour and a half before the game begins.

The MBTA said that, compared to driving, parking, and event-day traffic delays, the ticket prices are a “more affordable way to travel to and from matches”.

Passengers of all ages must have a valid match ticket to ride, and there is no MBTA subway or bus service to Boston Stadium.

The tickets allow fans to travel on the city’s entire commuter rail network on match days and go on sale on Wednesday.

It comes after Foxboro Station underwent $35m improvement works in time for the tournament.

MBTA general manager and CEO Phillip Eng said: “The MBTA is proud to have the opportunity to enable football fans from near and far to travel the Commonwealth, and we are ready to deliver unprecedented transit services to the seven World Cup matches held at Boston Stadium.

“The MBTA and MassDOT are focused on ensuring that we balance and support all of the celebrations and events this summer with the needs of our daily riders and drivers that count on the transportation system 365 days a year.”

Scotland will conclude their World Cup group campaign against Brazil in Miami on June 24.