Scottish rail fares to increase by 8.7% next April

Rail fares will go up by 8.7% next year

Rail fares across Scotland will increase by 8.7% from April next year.

The price rise, instigated by Transport Scotland, will affect all services operated by ScotRail, as well as the Caledonian Sleeper train.

The Scottish government said current fares were "simply no longer sustainable".

Transport Scotland also announced the current ScotRail peak fares removal pilot scheme has been extended by a further three months, until June 2024.

Some ScotRail fares increased by 4.8% in July, however season tickets and flexi-passes were not affected.

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The summer rise was the first increase since a price freeze in January 2022.

Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop said: "The Scottish government rightly made the decision to freeze flexi-pass and season ticket prices as part of its response to the cost of living crisis. While this has now remained in place for almost two years, it is simply no longer sustainable."

After confirming the increase, she added: "We know that any increase is unwelcome for passengers, therefore we have kept the rise as low as possible to maintain the attractiveness and affordability of rail as a travel option."

The price rise for the Caledonian Sleeper will take effect from 1 January.

Ms Hyslop added that fares were "on average" lower than elsewhere in the UK.

Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson said the rise in fares was "a body blow to passengers".

"It does nothing to help hard-pressed Scots who are reeling from the SNP's catastrophic budget cuts," he said.

"It will do nothing but deter people from travelling by train. It is the opposite of what we should be doing."

Train drivers' union Aslef said the increase was an "outrageous slap in the face" to Scottish people.