Dates for six-month trial scrapping peak ScotRail fares

A six-month trial that will introduce cheaper and simpler fares on ScotRail services will get underway from Monday, October 2.

The Scottish Government-funded project, encouraging people to travel by rail instead of car, will allow customers to travel all day on off-peak fares until the end of March 2024.

More expensive fares for travelling during the morning and evening rush hour will be scrapped for the duration of the trial scheme.

A single fare from Ayr to Glasgow Central, for example, is currently £10.30 at peak times and £5.40 off-peak.

Examples of some of the other savings on routes in and out of the main cities include:

Inverkeithing – Edinburgh (£11.10 to £6.50)

Perth – Dundee (£14.40 to £9.90)

Glasgow – Stirling (£16.10 to £9.60)

Inverurie – Aberdeen (£11.10 to £8.90)

Inverness – Elgin (£22.00 to £14.40)

There are some routes where no off-peak fare exists because the same price is available at any time of the day, and as such, customers will not see any change in those areas.

From next week (w/c September 18), customers can check the ScotRail website, or the app, to see off-peak fares for their route during the six-month period.

It is expected that the trial will encourage more people to use ScotRail services, with cheaper fares early in the day attracting more people to consider travelling by rail.

Alex Hynes, Scotland’s Railway managing director, said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity for Scotland’s Railway to encourage more people across the country to choose rail travel instead of using the car.

“Everyone at ScotRail is working hard to make sure that this six-month trial will be a success, and we will be monitoring our services and stations daily to see where we have any significant increases in customer journeys.

“We know that cost and simplicity is a critical factor for people when they choose how to travel, and we are looking forward to delivering this fantastic fare reduction for our customers.”