Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Rachael Hamilton, has slammed the SNP for removing a scheme which had reduced costs for passengers travelling from Tweedbank.
Earlier this week SNP transport secretary Fiona Hyslop confirmed that the removal of the peak fares pilot scheme would be ending on 27th September.
That will mean passengers will face “huge” price hikes as of Monday 30 September when travelling at peak times across Scotland once again.
Research from the Scottish Conservatives shows that the reintroduction of previous peak fare prices will mean a passenger travelling between Tweedbank to Edinburgh will face a 49.7% increase in their ticket price.
Currently they would be paying £14.50 but that will rise to £21.70 when the scheme ends.
Rachael Hamilton MSP says this is a “hammer blow” for hard-pressed passengers and does nothing to encourage people to ditch their cars and use the train to travel.
Rachael Hamilton MSP added that the SNP failed to do enough to promote the scheme and that it should have been made permanent for passengers.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Rachael Hamilton said: “These huge price hikes are a hammer blow for hard-pressed passengers.
“The removal of peak fares for those travelling from Tweedbank to Edinburgh was the right thing to do and should have been made permanent.
“Instead, passengers are now facing paying significantly more as previous peak fares come back into place.
“For those travelling from Tweedbank to Edinburgh, this means they will be paying 49.7% more than they are right now under the scheme.
“That will do nothing to encourage people to ditch their car and use the train for work and comes on top of passengers having to endure a reduced timetable.
“These price hikes are a world away from the affordable and reliable rail service the SNP promised when they took ScotRail under their control two years ago.
“Passengers using the Tweedbank to Edinburgh route are paying a heavy price for the SNP’s failures and the onus is on the transport secretary to fix this chaos.”