ScotRail fares increase will cause 'misery' for passengers as train travel becoming 'unaffordable'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A ScotRail fares hike will cause "misery" for passengers already struggling with the cost of living, the SNP Government has been warned.The country's largest rail operator announced today fares will increase by four per cent from April 1, which comes after a nine per cent increase last year.ASLEF, the train drivers' union, warned rail travel was becoming "unaffordable for many".ScotRail was brought back under public control in 2022 as part of a wider attempt to encourage more people to use public transport.The Scottish Government has a target of reducing car journeys by 20 per cent by the end of the decade - but was this week warned "minimal progress" had been made.Mark Ruskell, Scottish Greens transport spokesman, said: "These hikes will cause misery for commuters.

If we want rail to be the first and best option for regular journeys then it has to be affordable and accessible for all."When the Scottish Greens were in government we secured the removal of peak rail fares, only for the SNP to bring them back as soon as we were out of the room."With household budgets being stretched to their limits, workers and regular commuters across our country are looking to find the cheapest ways to travel.

These hikes will only deter people from using trains."If we want safer and cleaner communities and less cars on our roads then we need to cut the cost of public transport.

That is how we will encourage more commuters to leave their cars at home and hop on the train or bus, while benefiting people and planet."Kevin Lindsay, ASLEF Scottish organiser, said: "ScotRail raising fares in the same week that Audit Scotland Scotland reported that the Scottish Government is likely to miss its targets to reduce car use by 2030, illustrates