Peak time rail commuters face hefty price hikes in West Dunbartonshire

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Peak time rail commuters face hefty price hikes after Scotrail’s trial of off-peak fares all day came to an end.Journeys during peak times from Dumbarton Central to Glasgow will rise from £6.50 to £9.80, whilst journeys from Balloch to Glasgow have spiked from £7.40 to £11.20.Commuters working in the capital face huge rises too, with on-peak fares from Dumbarton Central or Balloch to Edinburgh rising by 70 percent from £26 to £44.40.Transport Scotland said the trial was ended after it did not achieve its aim of persuading more people to swap cars for public transport.However the rail operator - which was taken into Holyrood control in 2022 - has operated a reduced timetable since July, amid industrial action with drivers over pay, with 600 fewer services operating each day across the country.Slamming the decision, Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said: “There will be sharp increases in ticket pricing due to the SNP Government’s decision to end the off-peak rail travel pilot.

It is unfortunate that this comes at a time when rail travel is unreliable and is failing to serve the public well.“I have had many emails from constituents who face paying extra for unreliable services just to get to work and who are angry about the strain this will put on household budgets.“I have written to Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, outlining my disappointment at this decision.”Whilst Green MSP Ross Greer: “The return of peak rail fares will cost workers and families in Dumbarton a fortune at a time when a lot of people are really struggling.“Ending peak fares was long campaigned for by rail unions, so I was proud when the Scottish Greens delivered it last year.