Scotland rail fares to rise by six per cent

Scottish rail passengers will face a price increase of six per cent on most services beginning in January, which is nearly two per cent greater than the current inflation rate.

First ScotRail is defending the price rise as necessary due to significant “cost pressures” that the rail operator has encountered during this year.

The company added that for the third consecutive year, its increase on “regulated fares” is at the same rate as that given by the government of Scotland on “unregulated fares.”

First ScotRail noted that advance ticket sales on over 80 routes had been frozen.

The rail operator’s commercial director, Peter Williams, commented: “We believe we have struck the right balance between encouraging customers to travel when there is capacity on less busy services – and the price for travel on busier services where space is at a premium.”

Unregulated fares are not subject to a maximum increase, and can be set at the discretion of the operator. This involves most Singles, Off-peak Day Returns, First Class fares and Anytime Returns.

Regulated fares include Season Tickets, Off-peak Returns and most of the Anytime Day Returns. They can be increased only in line with the Retail Price Index franchise agreement plus one per cent. In July the Index rate was five per cent.

Thanks to news.bbc.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information please visit their website.

www.firstgroup.com