ScotRail introduces electric car-charging fees at stations

Drivers will face fees for charging their electric cars at stations

Electric-car drivers will face fees to charge their vehicles at railway stations across Scotland from early next year.

ScotRail confirmed a 43p per kilowatt hour (kw/h) tariff would be introduced from 8 January.

The nationalised firm said it cost £700,000 to operate the chargers every year, and it would make no profit from the levy.

The maximum motorists will pay is about £9.46 for an hour's charge.

Drivers who stay in the space for more than 12 hours will receive a £12 penalty under the new rules.

It is hoped the fees will help deter drivers from staying parked in spaces for longer periods.

Customers will also be eligible for refunds if an overstay is the result of a train delay.

'Improving services'

ScotRail said the fees were being introduced solely to recover the cost of operating the chargers.

The rail operator has 168 "fast charging" 22kW points at 60 stations across the country.

Chargers are currently free to use, but drivers still have to pay parking fees already in place.

Its latest station, which opened in East Linton on Wednesday, has capacity to charge 18 vehicles.

Clackmannanshire, East Lothian and Glasgow City councils all enforce tariffs for use of their charge points.

ScotRail sustainability director, David Lister, said any money raised from the fees would go back in to improving rail services.

"One of the main complaints we receive is that the charging points at our car parks are currently being blocked by vehicles overstaying, and the tariff from 8 January will help to remove that issue," he said.

"It is important that ScotRail delivers the best possible value to taxpayers and the charging tariff will ensure that we recover the cost of operating them."